"Come out, come out, wherever you are!" cooed Anise as she crept around the bales of hays and in between the stalls of the horses, attempting to capture Jade in a vicious game of hide and seek.
A stifled giggle erupted to the left of Anise and Arthur couldn't help the warm smile that attacked his mouth as Anise grabbed the small bundle of childish excitement in her arms and tickled it mercilessly.
"No! It tickles! Stop!" screamed the little girl, only interrupted by the barks of laughter as the girl fought to try and free herself from Anise's arms.
"Fear not Lady Jade for Sir Gawain, most fearsome, deadly and strong; not forgetting handsome, of all of Arthur's legendary Knights will come and save you!" called Gawain in a deep and commanding voice as he pretended to ride towards Anise and the child with his chest puffed out in a manly fashion. "Unhand the girl now and no-one will get hurt!" He demanded to Anise, trying valiantly to hide his smile and gasped in shock when Anise refused him and continued in tickling the shrieking girl.
"Well, I fear that we shall have to do battle then Lady Anise. Draw your weapon!" Continued Gawain in his mocking voice and Anise stopped amusing the small girl for a moment so they could both look at him in amazement.
"Very well Sir Knight, I accept your challenge!" Cried Anise as she placed Jade on the floor and assumed a fighting stance; pretending to unsheathe her imaginary sword and circle Gawain, with his also imaginary sword drawn.
"You wield a mighty sword, my Lady." Commented Gawain amusedly and Anise indulged him with an evil laugh.
Jade watched in quiet rapture as she now perched upon Arthur's lap, her eyes wide and her mouth hanging open slightly. Arthur chuckled to himself at the girl's enjoyment and pulled her closer into his arms to stop her from falling from his knee.
"Let the battle commence!" He called eagerly and Jade turned to him with a squeal of laughter, causing him to grin widely, before turning her attention back to the now battling pair.
They danced around one another, slashing wildly with their imaginary swords and staggering slightly when they had been nicked by the other's weapon.
"You shall never win my Lady!" Taunted Gawain in his booming voice and he assumed a strong pose, shaking his head openly to let his tawny hair fall over his shoulders in a Lancelot-like fashion.
"Go on Gawain!" Shouted the small girl who was practically bouncing up and down in Arthur's lap from sheer anticipation and Anise span to face her with shock and mock-hurt written all over her face.
"How can it be true? You favour that….thing!" cried Anise, pointing over to a surprised Gawain. "Over me?"
Arthur laughed out loud then and Gawain took the opportunity to grab the woman from behind and lock her in his strong arms.
"I have you now my Lady." He growled and Anise started to fake cry.
"Do what you will with me, for I no longer have the friendship of my loyal comrade!" She wailed, melodramatically, flinging an arm up to her forehead in mock distress and making weeping noises.
Arthur shook his head to see the spectacle and sighed, rolling his eyes at the bemused looking Jade who then sighed sarcastically; mimicking Arthur and causing everyone to burst out laughing.
"You are becoming more like Lancelot than I should care for." Teased Arthur to Jade and laughed harder when an enraged Lancelot stormed into the stables and stood with hands on hips in the doorway.
"What did you say?" He scowled, amusement flickering in his dark eyes and a smirk gradually reaching his lips as Jade squealed "Lancey-lot!" and ran full tilt towards him.
"He was saying I was more like you than he should care for." Whispered the small girl and Lancelot hugged her to him as he picked her up and sat her on his hip. Her small hands reached around his neck before she leant her head on his shoulder; her auburn tresses mixing with his dark curls, and her thumb coming up for her to suck upon.
"And I call this man a friend? Really why do we need enemies when we have friends like these Jade?" He scoffed, grinning at Arthur who laughed in return and rolled his eyes; smiling creases crinkling the edges of his green-grey eyes.
The threesome then looked back over towards Gawain and Anise, who were know caught up in kissing one another, so with a disgusted noise made by Lancelot they exited the stables and went in search of the tavern.
"So Arthur," Began Lancelot casually, his head peering around Jade's small body. "What was wrong with Drogn? I saw him walk past looking like his horse had died earlier."
"The betrothal between him and Jocosta is off." Remarked Arthur offhandedly and Lancelot nearly dropped Jade, but regained his suave composure and looked disinterestedly towards his friend.
"So," Lancelot had to cough for his voice to restrain the curiosity creeping in. "What brought this on?"
Arthur smirked knowingly at his second-in-command knowing that he was dying to hear this and the half-roman heaved a sigh.
"She simply wasn't ready…for him."
Lancelot tilted his head to the side in intrigue and raised his eyebrows ever so slightly.
"Well who was she ready for?"
"Perhaps you should ask her that Lancelot." Replied Arthur as he attempted to evade the Knight's question, strolling on through the streets with careful strides.
"Come now Arthur, surely you'll tell me sooner or later, so why not sooner?" He smirked and levelled his eyes with Arthur's.
"Lancelot-" Began Arthur tiredly only to have Lancelot interrupt.
"Another Woad?" urged Lancelot as he edged closer to Arthur as they walked, Jade still listening silently to their conversation.
"No." Said Arthur wearily, he had played this games many times with his Knight and knew how it worked.
"Hmm….someone in the fort then….not a Roman surely?" Choked Lancelot in disgust and breathed in relief when Arthur shook his head and replied with an amused: "No."
"One of our boys then? Well, the only ones left are me, Dag and Galahad, and it sure as hell ain't me." Huffed Lancelot, seemingly deflated somewhat at not having received the girl's attentions. This only continued for a second though till he relinquished his devious smirk and turned back to face the light-hearted Arthur.
"Galahad?"
Arthur's slight hesitation was answer enough for Lancelot and the Knight laughed aloud as they continued in their fast strides.
"Never thought I'd see the day when that boy would get over himself." Laughed Lancelot and Arthur's eyebrows nearly disappeared into his dark waves as much as they rose.
"Well yes," Coughed Lancelot, evading the subject of himself and retuning his gaze to the path ahead. "This should get interesting."
Arthur simply scoffed as he gave his comrade a side-long glance to catch his devious smirk and patted him on the back as they neared the inviting warmth of the tavern.
Her hair lay spread across his chest in a halo design as she slept silently above the beating of his heart. He lay mutely and studied her closed eyelids, parted mouth and contented expression as she slept and thanked the Gods that she was truly his. Her delicate head bobbed in time with his breathing and he let out a laughing sigh as he watched, the smile staying fixed on his face as his fingers ghosted through her hair and across her face. She was his, and that was all that mattered now; he would do everything within his power to make sure it stayed that way too. A brief flash on anguish crossed her face as she dreamed softly, but he soothed it away with whispered promises and calming caresses. A comforting sigh escaped her lips and blew warm across his chest as she snuggled closer to him, pulling the blankets further up her lithe body. He tugged gently on the blankets to keep her warm but her hand caught his and gently enlaced her fingers' with his; effectively stopping him. He sighed to himself then and continued in watching her in the midst of slumber as the darkness began to fall.
An unholy scream filled the air as his fingers tumbled lazily across her porcelainskin and he jerked upwards in the bed; dislodging her from her sleep, but yet with his arms still bound around her tightly.
"What was that?" She asked fearfully.
"I don't know," He answered, gazing deeply into her timid eyes before shifting from the bed and yanking on some breeches in a hurry. "Wait here I won't be long." He warned as a shirt flew over his head and set his curls into disarray.
Her mournful expression was enough to send him back to the bed after his boots had been pulled roughly on and to kiss her lovingly on the lips.
"Stay here my love." He whispered before striding out of the room.
As Galahad appeared in the flickering lit of the corridor he set off at a steady run towards the source of the scream. His heart was beating fast in his ears as he searched his path fretfully but he pushed back his fear and focused on where the noise had come from. He appeared in the corridor from which it had originated and looked frantically between the two doors. The faltering light of the torches cast dancing shadows over the dark grain of the wood; swirling and jumping in various designs, all of which Galahad had seen in so many of his nightmares. He looked again at the two doors as he stood frozen in the corridor, until another scream was released into the heavy silence and he nodded decisively.
One led to Gawain and Anise's chamber and one to Tristan and Day's.
A/N: Well I was getting far too bored with all the cushy fluff and so I decided to liven it up a bit! 40 chapters and over 100 reviews! -whistles- Man, oh man, never did I think it would turn into a monster like this! lol but don't hesitate in telling me if you think it should hang up the towel lol. So what do you think will happen next?Remember that if I think your idea is better than mine, then it may end up being included in the story lol. Thanks ever so much! x