A/N: Just a warning if you're very squeamish as there is some description of 'surgery' in this and lots of blood lol.
"The infirmary? What do you mean she's in the infirmary? What happened? Why didn't you tell me sooner?"
Galahad winced against the assault of Jocosta's endless stream of questions as she got more and more agitated. She was currently pacing back and forth in their chamber, throwing her arms around as her voice got higher with her anger and worry.
"I don't-" Galahad tried explaining but was cut off by another outburst from the irritable girl in front of him.
"Gods, is the baby alright? I better go and see her. But what if she doesn't want me under everyone's' feet again? Should I go and get Father? What am I to do?" Shrieked Jocosta again as she stalked past Galahad again who was sat with his head in his hands on the bed.
"Jocosta, will you just-"
"And you!" She rounded on him, pointing an accusing finger towards him as she marched towards the bed. "Why didn't you tell me? I could have helped! I'm her sister, you had no right!" Her voice started off dangerously low but gradually rose in volume until she was practically screaming at him.
Galahad started scooting backwards on the bed; retreating from the bristling figure, his eyes wide and mouth gaping like a fish as he searched for an explanation. His back hit the unyielding stone wall too soon though, and he found himself with no escape route as Jocosta started crawling towards him across the bed; a glare evident and her anger simmering below the surface.
"Jocosta, please! Now you're just being silly." Galahad pleaded, backing up against the wall as far as he could.
The girl stopped short and her face opened in surprise.
"Silly?" She whispered in shock. She blinked a few times before her anger started to flood back and she leapt towards the defenceless Galahad a few feet away. "Why didn't you tell me! You good for nothing son of a-"
"I didn't tell you because I knew you'd react like this!" Galahad shouted over her various shrieks and screams, using his arms to block against her vicious blows before grabbing her arms and pushing her backwards so she was trapped beneath him. "Jocosta will you just listen to me?"
She gazed up at the pleading Galahad above her and stilled; her anger slowly diminishing. Realising that she was granting him permission, the young Knight eased his grip on her arms and sat back.
"I didn't tell you as I knew this would happen. I didn't want to upset you and thought it best I kept quiet for a little while." Galahad rationalized slowly, a sad smile on his face. He raised a hand gently as Jocosta opened her mouth to protest. "I would have told you when things had calmed down. I only wanted to protect you."
Jocosta silently took everything in before raising herself up and looking out of the window. The sky was a steely grey and it was starting to rain; the familiar pitter-patter of the water droplets sounding strange against the stone of the fort rather than the leaves of the trees. When she turned back to face her lover, her eyes were also filled with tears; like the rain, and she took a quick breath before starting to speak.
"I know. I know you were only doing what you thought was best and I am grateful for that. But…" Another shuddering breath was inhaled and Galahad took her hands between his two larger calloused ones, his forest green eyes searching her glistening ones. "I don't like being kept in the dark. I need to know what's happening, especially when it comes to my family…and you. I promise I'll try to be calm next time, but please don't keep it from me." She finished in a whisper and Galahad instantly held her in his arms, stroking her hair and comforting her with loving words and cherishments.
"Rain mixed with snow." He observed as he looked over her head resting on his chest and out of the window. "A bad omen."
"Do it." Stated Tristan sternly as he stared down on Day's serene face.
Dagonet stood next to him and shifted uneasily.
"Are you sure Tristan? I don't know if she will survive-"
"Just do it Dagonet." Tristan repeated firmly, trying to block out what his friend had just said.
"Ok Tristan." Sighed Dagonet, moving around to the other side of the bed and selected the small knife off the table and with one last look to the brooding scout, he made an incision in the bare skin of Day's abdomen; just over her right hip. Fortunately the Valerian and Chamomile infusion was working well and she did not stir beneath Dagonet's administrations.
Tristan watched her face closely, searching for any sign of emotion or pain. He did not know what to think. Here he stood with his lover and child possibly straying near to the other side; he was helpless. No amount of agility, power or skill could let him save them and all he could do was watch, watch as they possibly slipped from his hands.
His face was more stony then stoic and his eyes glinted with sheer will and determination as he attempted to block out the turmoil rising within him. His eyes were drawn to Day's stomach as she lay peacefully on the bed, drawn to the tiny swelling there, drawn to the child there. Never had he even dreamed of himself finding a family of his own, he had always seen himself dying in battle; the place he enjoyed most, or if he lived to see his freedom granted then he would wander the wilderness; another place he loved with only his horse, hawk and wind of his face for company.
And yet here he found himself with a fiancée, child and more. How could he possibly lose it all?
A strangled sigh from Dagonet brought him back to reality and he snapped his head up to watch Dagonet frowning with concentration as he felt around inside Day in an attempt to find the near-bursting appendix. There was blood everywhere and Tristan found himself feeling the slightest bit nauseous; he could only think that it was Day's blood rather than his enemies', that it was his child's blood.
"Damn it!" Dagonet cursed under his breath as the offending organ slipped from his grasp. He growled deep in his throat as he searched for it again, his eyes unfocused with deep concentration.
He set his jaw as he reached for the knife and cut the appendix free, breathing a sigh of relief that it had not yet burst and throwing it into the bowl next to his feet. Next he felt around with one of his bloody hands to try and find the needle and thread to tie up the blood vessels connecting to where the appendix once was.
"Here." Tristan said as he handed the needle to Dagonet, and the tall Knight smiled in thanks.
His arm once again went deep into the incision he made and he snapped off a piece of the thread with his teeth to try and tie up the end of the artery. Dag's hands were too slippy though and he lost grasp of the artery; letting blood loose everywhere inside Day's abdomen and blocking his view.
"Shit." It was only the slightest breath but Tristan was instantly alert and the look of panic on his friend's face only helped to confirm his suspicions.
"Dagonet, what is wrong?" He asked quietly, urgency plain in his voice.
Dag looked up helplessly at the worried scout but said nothing, only reaching for some bandages behind his back as he ducked back to search for the missing artery. He sent bowls, flasks and instruments flying everywhere as he wrenched the bandages from the table behind him and pushed them into the incision; hoping it would absorb the blood and then give him a clear view.
Tristan watched as Day's face grew increasingly grey and he looked back towards Dagonet to see the blood-soaked bandages appearing as he pulled them out. His head shot back to look at Day's face and he fought to keep control. He was losing them.
Arthur caught sight of Vanora making her way back to the tavern and he ran out of the stables to catch up with her; the barmaid seemingly not noticing the rain and snow pouring from the sky.
"How is she?" He asked lowly and Vanora gave him a teary smile, wiping her face with the back of her hand. "Vanora?" Arthur asked in concern, stopping her and turning her to face him, his hands a comforting weight on her shoulders.
"The baby is fine." Vanora told him and watched as he sagged with relief.
"And Day?" The worry was still there though and Vanora wiped at her face again, shaking her head. "What's wrong with her?" Arthur demanded anxiously, steering Vanora back into the stables and seating her on one of the benches.
Bors was in there training with Lancelot, but came instantly to his lover's side once he saw the state she was in.
"Vanora, love? What's the matter with ya?" He asked quietly, his large arm coming around her shoulders.
She smiled like a little girl then, leaning into his body and sighing as she looked back at the alarmed Arthur and Lancelot.
"She's got appendicitis. Dag said somethin' about it being serious, and if they don't get it out soon…"
Everyone knew what Vanora left unsaid and their thoughts instantly went to their loyal, silent scout.
Arthur hung his head sorrowfully, till an idea planted in his mind and he looked back to the sniffling Vanora with a thoughtful frown.
"Vanora, I understand this is a shock to you too but would you mind doing something for me? Well, them." He asked softly, running a hand through his dark waves.
"Course Arthur!" She exclaimed forcefully, her fiery spirit returning to her and she stood up.
Arthur smiled then, the heavy creases in his face softening as he stood also.
"Well all I ask of you is to prepare their room for them. I'm sure Tristan will need rest and I know he'd be more then grateful if you could give him clean sheets and some food."
Vanora nodded eagerly and grabbed Bors; dragging him up from the bench, much to his loud protests, and hauling him away.
"Oi! I never signed up for this!" Bellowed Bors as he disappeared around the corner.
"Tough! Anyway you can't write so I'm making the decisions for ya!" Vanora shouted right back.
Yes she was definitely back in charge now that she had something to do.
Arthur turned to an amused looking Lancelot, but both turned serious as Bors' yells grew fainter.
"Right now we need to keep control, give our support to Tristan but not meddle." Arthur commented grimly, staring back out into the dreary weather.
"Aye." Agreed Lancelot, returning the sword to the others by the large doors and pausing a little before he turned around. "But we still have to act normally around him. We don't want to be irking him too."
Arthur snorted in stunned relief at the ability of his First Knight to maintain a sense of humour throughout this all. Heaving a sigh, he slung his arm companionably round Lancelot's shoulders and steered him off in the direction of the fort.
There was still a large amount of blood gushing from the artery and Dagonet grew increasingly more alarmed by every second he spent peering into the red substance trying to find the culprit.
"Dagonet?" Tristan asked, jerking his head solemnly towards Day's ashen face and the other Knight cursed a bit louder this time.
"Don't worry Tristan, I'll find it." He stated with added determination.
The scout inclined his head slightly to himself, his braids hanging further in front of his eyes and hiding the sadness and anger towards everyone, everything that was held in them. Without saying a word he pressed a soft kiss to Day's forehead and released her clammy hand, letting it slip from his as he let them both slip away.
Dagonet's head popped up from his kneeling position on the floor next to the bed as he heard the door slam shut.
"Day I won't let you die. You're a fighter, we both know this. That bloody Saxon didn't stop you so I won't let this!" Dagonet murmured fervently to himself as he pushed further into the opening in her abdomen and felt around; the blood soaking up to his elbows and the metallic scent filling the room.
Suddenly his face opened from it's frown and he nearly smiled as he grasped the troublesome artery and managed to clumsily tie it off with the piece of thread. He peered back in to make sure it was good enough and the blood flow has stopped, and once he was satisfied he let go of the breath he had been holding and sat back on his heels.
"Gods woman, you don't make things easy do you?"
Stitching up the artery beneath the string, Dag washed out the opening with hot water and cleansed it before stitching up the large incision. He scolded himself for making it so big as she would most likely be scarred for life now, but took satisfaction in knowing that she would now only be left with a scar rather than dying. He hoped at least.
He moved around the bedside to where he had safely placed the two ointments on the larger table and brought them back over to Day's side. Dag had to replace the bedside table on it's legs and set down the two bowls before washing his hands and arms quickly in the surprisingly still standing water. Turning back, he noticed with satisfaction that Day did not look so ashen now and so he set to work with washing the newly stitched wound carefully before applying the Marigold and Commiphora lotion to stop any infection from entering the wound. He inwardly thanked the Romans for at least bringing some herbs with them from other countries as he meticulously coated the stitching; all the while wondering angrily at why Tristan had left and how he was going to give him a right rollicking when he found him. He set the bowl down with a nod and washed his hands again before applying the second salve of Yellow Dock and Clivers to help the cut in healing quickly and hopefully reducing any scarring that was left.
Happy with his handiwork, Dag gently replaced the blankets over Day and swept a soothing hand over her forehead. He had to smile as he looked around at the mess he had created; bowls smashed on the floor, instruments lying haphazardly across the tiles, towels flung left, right and centre, and of course the red streaks of blood all over the place. He would have to clean up later, but first he had a scout to find.
Dagonet gave Day one last caring look before he left the room as quietly as he could. He closed the door silently on his way out, not noticing Day's hand twitch as the Valerian and Chamomile infusion began to wear off.
A/N: Ok well...hmm. Sorry it took me so long to update but I tried last night and was playing up and excuses, excuses I know lol. Not sure about this here chapter...all seemed a bit too fast and stupid, and I don't know why I'm telling you this as I'm the author so it's my own fault! lol But yes I found Gryfn! Way! I think he's still at the fort, where though I haven't the foggiest lol. And where's Tristan gone! Has our beloved scout walked away from his now 'not dead' fiancee and child! Tut tut Tristan you're going to get such a bitch-slap off Dag for that lol! Well, who knows...hehe. Thanks xx
(P.S. 50 chapters! This was only going to be a little story as I've never made it past about 9 before I lost interest before lol)
LANCELOTTRISTANBABY: Did you like what happened next? Hope it was ok for everyone, had to have a bit of drama in there! Yes I do love my cliff-hangers but ifI read a fic and there's one and I'm made to wait ages I get mad so sorry everyone! lol Thanks!
Elfvamp1-13-97: You were right on the whole surgery front! I know that they probably won't have known anything about appendicitis in those days, let alone surgery but hey it's my story and I've already got a witch so I can do what I want with it! lol. But I was a good girl and looked up all my herbs and what they do etc so everyone has to give me some brownie points for that! Hope you enjoyed it too and sorry I had to make you wait so long! Thanks x