Gryfn had been taken to the infirmary immediately after his awakening and carried there by the order of Dagonet, although the boy had protested and claimed he could walk fine enough.
"Remarkable." Breathed the immensely tall Knight as his hands ran repeatedly over Gryfn's neck which had been broken mere moments ago. There was so break now, or even slippage of disks, it was as though it had never happened. "Does it hurt at all Gryfn?" Dagonet asked promptly, leaning forward to talk to the boy on the bed.
"No. There's no pain whatsoever." Came the slightly muffled reply from Gryfn as he lay on his stomach on one of the infirmary beds.
"Remarkable." Dagonet repeated again in awe.
"Brigh, you're well again! I thought I'd never hear your voice again." Admitted Jocosta softly from the other side of the bed and Gryfn sought out his younger sister's hand.
"Brideag you should know better then that. If not in this life, I would still be watching you from the next, making you sure you didn't get into mischief and laughing with you when you managed to fluster the ever calm Day." Chided Gryfn in amusement, winning a grin from Jocosta and a squeeze of his hand.
"Aye, you'll never leave me Brigh." She murmured gently and reached forward to press a kiss into his dark waves.
"Well Gryfn," Said Dagonet cheerfully, breaking the sibling's moment. "I see no reason for you to stay here as everything seems to be fine. But if you start to feel anything strange or any pain I want you to come to me right away, understand? Night or day, it matters not." Added Dagonet sternly as he helped Gryfn off the bed.
"I swear." Gryfn replied with a reassuring smile and Dagonet left the siblings alone once again.
Jocosta simply stared at her brother in wonder; relief flooding her every pore as she relived the moment he had called her name.
"Jocosta?" called Gryfn a little uncertainly, slightly amused by her staring. "Jocosta, we can go now."
She returned from her thoughts and gave her brother an eager grin to which he laughed.
"Come little one." He said kindly, leading her from the infirmary and into the awaiting arms of Galahad at the tavern.
"So whatcha sayin is, she wanted Arthur dead for 'overthrowin' Merlin?" questioned Bors a little later, the drinks still flowing as they sat in their usual spot within the tavern.
"Seems so." Replied Gryfn as he glanced upwards quickly as one of the barmaids refilled his mug.
"But why didn't she go after Anise? Surely that would have made more sense as she was the one that actually killed him." Galahad asked with curiosity, his arms tight around Jocosta who sat in front of him on the bench.
"True, but Arthur had been fighting a war with Merlin for much longer. The girl had powers too, so very similar to Merlin in his prime. Perhaps the witch wanted to tame her and mould her into such a powerful figure as he." Gryfn suggested, shrugging his shoulders and drinking from his mug.
"Well it's just lucky our little Lady here was with you when she was. Who knows what would have happened if the witch had had her way?" Galahad murmured, his voice turning thoughtful at the end as his fingers pressed gently over the scratches along Jocosta's cheek.
She smiled and tilted her head back against Galahad so that he could press a kiss on her forehead, before looking back to the group and turning to Tristan.
"I doubt the outcome would have been the same if it were not for Tristan saving me so." She smiled, her eyes shining with thanks which the scout gratefully received with a nod of his head.
Vanora made her way over towards the table then, bringing a pitcher of wine and ale with her, as she always did to keep everyone happy whilst she had five minutes peace, and took her place beside Bors; who rather emphatically grabbed her from behind and started to kiss her with untamed fervour.
"Mmph…get off me you great oaf!" Vanora mumbled, struggling to break free of her lover's fierce embrace and eventually resorting to whacking him across the head with her tea towel from her apron.
Bors gave a hearty laugh, muttering into his drink about 'fiery temper' and 'more bastards before long' as Vanora turned back to Day and gave her a flustered grin.
"What I was going to ask you child, before I was so rudely interrupted," Bors earned a slap upside the head then and gave a muttered curse. "Was how you're faring? With your pregnancy an' all, it can be a strain you're first."
Day nodded, her hand coming to rest over Tristan's who never strayed far from Day's stomach now, and she squeezed his fingers.
"Well enough, but aye he doesn't half wriggle about." She replied, nudging Tristan with her elbow as he started at the mention of 'he'. He smirked and bent his head to whisper in her ear "Temper, temper." An amused smile sprang to Day's lips then but she ignored it.
"Aye, no. 5 was the worst for that. Didn't get an ounce of sleep for three whole weeks at one stage with that one!" Vanora agreed, only to whack Bors again as he muttered from behind her: "Aye, neither did the 'ole fort with her screamin' like a banshee."
Everyone else gathered round the table suppressed their laughter and Bors gave Vanora a wicked grin.
"Well, you ever need any help child and you come to me. No offence Dag, but even you don't know some things when it comes to medicine and childbirth." Vanora smiled, making sure the older Knight nodded in understanding and smiled warmly back, before she rose from the bench and squeezed Day's hand.
"I can't thank you enough Vanora; you've been more then kind to me." Day returned, smiling up to the fiery red-head with grateful eyes.
"Think nothing of it child." The barmaid replied before starting to weave her way back to the bar, Bors slapping her across the backside as she walked away and earning a playful scowl from Vanora.
Everyone laughed at the exchange and talked for a while longer until Day yawned, rolling her shoulders and resting sleepily against Tristan.
"Come you're tired. You need your rest." Tristan murmured, lifting Day from the bench and guiding her within the safe confines of his arm to their chamber. They bid their goodnights and Galahad watched wistfully as they walked away; each comfortable in the ensuing silence and taking pleasure from the other's presence.
Jocosta tilted her head to look at him, a small smile playing across her lips and slowly widening as Galahad realised he was being watched and looked back down to her with a shy grin.
"What?" He questioned with a flustered tone, his cheeks slightly pinker than before and Jocosta simply shook her head and snuggled back into him; re-entering the conversation around the table.
Gawain was humming softly to himself as he pottered around the chamber as quietly as he could, being careful not to wake Anise. He was currently boiling some broth over the fire as Vanora had been kind enough to bring them some food from the tavern. He stirred the steaming mixture thoughtfully as he continued in his gentle humming, letting his mind wander back to the familiar open plains of Sarmatia. Yes, it was true that he was more accustomed to the life of a warrior under a Roman commander's lead than living with his family back in his homelands but he could still remember the sound of the wind whistling through those lush green tall grasses of the plains, the twinkling carpet of stars at night and the sound of his younger brothers' laughter. A small smile tugged at his lips as he reminisced about his native home and he shut his eyes for a few brief moments as the memories came alive in his mind. The smell of the stew brought him from his reverie a short time afterwards and he sighed before lifting the pot from over the roaring fire and placing it on the nearby table. Two bowls were already awaiting and Gawain grinned, mentally praising Vanora and her kindness. The earthenware bowls were quickly filled to the brim with the bubbling chicken broth and Gawain placed the pot back near the fire before pouring some mugs of warm ale and walking towards the bedside with the tray of food and drink.
The comforting warmth of the furs surrounding her and of the blazing fire at the other end of the room roused Anise from her deep slumber with a loud yawn and outstretched arms. Hearing a soft chuckle beside her, she rolled over to find Gawain approaching with a steaming bowl and mug and a caring beam gracing his open face; his braided hair surrounding his face like some golden halo. She sat up gratefully and waited as he moved a small chest over to the bedside and set the tray of food down.
"Angel." She muttered drowsily to him as he sat down next to her on the bed and handed her a bowl of the broth. Gawain laughed aloud at her comment and shifted closer to her, listening as she drank from the bowl and sighed contentedly.
"How many times is it now that I've been unconscious since I arrived here?" She asked airily, leaning her head on Gawain's shoulder and his head on top of her's.
"Does that include when we first found you?" He replied equally as casually before dinking from his own bowl.
"Yes, why not." She chuckled and revelled in the comfort of her surroundings and the undying warmth radiating from her lover.
"Hmm…" Gawain thought for a moment, bringing his bowl of broth to his lips and drinking heavily before setting it back down in his lap again. "Think this'll be the sixth time now."
Anise nodded silently and snuggled her face into Gawain's neck, his beard tickling her face.
"I love you." She whispered softly and Gawain's eyes filled with love and a grin crept across his face as he replaced their bowls on the tray and brought Anise into his arms.
"As do I, you are the most important thing in my world." He murmured back adoringly and he placed a kiss into her dark mass of curls.
"But I thought your freedom would be the most important thing in the world to you?" Anise commented quietly and with slight confusion before Gawain tilted his head to look at her and kissed her on the nose.
"You are my freedom." He whispered as he moved his head back far enough to look in her eyes and see the smile light up her face.
Returning to their original position with Gawain's arm around Anise's shoulders and her curled into his side as they leant back against the wall behind the bed, Anise sighed blissfully, both starting to doze off but awake just enough for Gawain to chuckle when Anise yawned: "You sweet-talker, you."
"Arthur really needs to get rid of some of this junk…" Lancelot muttered under his breath as he nosed around his commander's chamber, holding up a particularly nasty looking piece of parchment and tossing it over his shoulder with a snort of disgust.
Arthur watched him with weary amusement from his newly-awoken place in his bed as a figurine fell to the floor with a clatter, but luckily failed to smash.
"Lancelot, what do you think you're doing?" Asked Arthur, laughter evident in his voice and his grey-green eyes sparkling with mirth.
Lancelot didn't turn around as he started to speak, but instead continued rifling through Arthur's drawers.
"I am, urgh…" Another prized possession went sailing through the air. "Getting rid of some of this junk Arthur. I mean what kind of use could this be to you?" Lancelot asked, holding up a small rather beaten ornament and wrinkling his nose in disgust.
"Have you never thought they could hold sentimental value Lancelot?" Responded Arthur, pushing aside his bed covers and struggling to untangle himself from them as he tried to stand up.
Lancelot seemed to consider Arthur's words and looked at the wooden ornament for a moment with a raised eyebrow, before tossing it once again over his shoulder with a shrug. Arthur caught the flying object just before it hit the floor and placed it on a nearby table with an exasperated sigh. He came to stand beside his second-in-command just as Lancelot picked up a large commemorative plaque of Pelagius.
"Pelagius." Breathed Arthur with a smile and Lancelot looked up in surprise to see the wistful smile on his friend's face. "This man," Continued Arthur, taking the plaque in his hands and holding it up in the candlelight. "This man is the greatest of all the men I know from Rome. His wisdom could work wonders on everyone. He is almost like a second father to me for we are that close; I await greeting him once again in Rome with pleasure."
Lancelot listened silently before looking at his friend carefully and clearing his throat.
"What wisdom did he teach that could be so wondrous?" He asked, trying hard to keep any tone of spite or sarcasm out of his voice and to be sincere.
"Ah, so much Lancelot, so much." Sighed Arthur, walking away to sit down at the table near the fire and studying the plaque in his hands. "He was the one who inspired me to make our table round you know." He said conversationally as Lancelot went to pour them both some wine. "He taught me that for men to be men, they must first all be equal."
Lancelot smirked as he sat down opposite Arthur and pushed a goblet of wine towards him.
"Was he also the one who taught you that every man is born free?"
Arthur nodded, pleased that Lancelot had obviously been listening to him and paused in bringing his wine to his lips.
"You've listened well my friend. As I say, he is full of wisdom." Arthur spoke warmly and stared off into the fire.
"Aye, but he was wrong on the last account." Comment Lancelot somewhat bitterly and Arthur looked up with a frown to see Lancelot scowling into his drink.
"I don't understand…" Arthur said slowly, his tone soft and the frown deepening.
"You wouldn't Arthur. You don't know what it is like to have your life chosen for you before you were even born, and taken from you at the age of 10."
Arthur stayed silent after Lancelot made his statement. It was not spat as it usually was and followed with some sort of argument between them or his closest friend storming out, but instead his Knight's tone was gloomy even though the anger lurked in his dark eyes like the lull before the storm. Arthur made to apologise, comfort him, say anything but Lancelot appeared to awake from his reverie with a shake of his curly head and a casual smile.
"How's your throat?" He asked lightly and Arthur welcomed the change of subject.
"It's been better." He replied with a playful laugh and relaxed back into his chair, enjoying the company and comfort of his current state.
"You'd never survive without me, you know that don't you?" Lancelot stated matter-of-factly, smirking as he took a gulp from his goblet.
Arthur's mouth dropped open and he spluttered a little; much to his Knight's amusement, before making a coherent response.
"And how did you reach that conclusion, brother?"
Lancelot's smile softened, but widened and he set down his now empty goblet with a good-natured sigh.
"Saved you twice in the past few months, both from situations you would have never survived if I hadn't."
"I think you'll find I held my own with that witch," Arthur blushed when Lancelot laughed loudly, bringing his head back to laugh at the ceiling. "Well, I meant that I was the one who eventually killed her. And I've saved you from quite a few scuffles as well." He finished proudly and smiled back at Lancelot.
His second-in-command shrugged and contemplated his friend's words for a moment or two before nodding his head and putting his feet up on a nearby stool.
"Fine then. We wouldn't survive without each other." He commented and Arthur agreed with a nod of his head as he took another swig of wine. "Although you need me more." Lancelot added hastily with a sly grin, looking at Arthur mischievously.
Arthur coughed on his drink and stared at his friend in surprise before grabbing a cushion from behind him on the chair and throwing it across the table. Lancelot wasn't quick enough to dodge it and soon his smug grin was wiped from his face; much to Arthur's pleasure.
"We need to find you a woman Arthur." Was the sneaky, if not muffled, reply and soon laughter erupted from both parties.
A/N: You all better count yourselves extremely lucky (or not) to be getting this update! You can thank my dear friend Nick for this daring action, as I would have finished this update off after my mocks had it not been for the argument we had this evening and the anger fuelling my impatience lol. The Gawain/Anise scene was very sickly sweet, I apologise but you have to have a good fluff scene sometimes. Don't expect anything else till at least next Monday when I have the day off as I haven't got any exams (Whoo!) but I hope you all enjoy and please, please, please, feel free to review, comment, give me ideas (you all know you want to, especially you Meredith hehehe) or even flame me as they will all probably make me laugh or smile! Thanks for everyone's support! Next time I will do some individual thanks, yay! Thanks x