Disclaimer: I am poor and own nothing. And because I'm poor, this is my only source of entertainment, so please do not sue.
Authors Note: Hello Everyone! Quick note, a lot of you made the assumption that no one knew about Tristan and Miranda, but that's not the case. What Mariska asked the knights was if there was anything to bring him back to the living, therefore, they failed to mention his lover and son, because why would that be a reason for him to come back? You'll get more information on that later, I just thought I'd let you know. Think of it more as something that isn't talked about for fear of Tristan gutting everyone in his path kind of thing. Thanks to all who reviewed.
Ryn the whitepanther – Sorry I posted just before you reviewed the last chapter. LOL. Anyway, glad you are enjoying this story so much. It makes me happy.
Zelinia – It will all come out later on. Glad you liked the part with Lance. Let's face it the man never stops. Glad you liked it all and as always thanks for reviewing.
Texasgrrl – Yeah, she has a past among other things, which makes her the way she is. I just don't want to lay it all out right away, same with the other two girls. You'll find out more though since the guys are awake. All questions will be answered…eventually. Thanks for the review.
Klumsee – That's the hope anyway. Let me know how I do. Glad you liked it and thanks for reviewing.
TriGemini – Yes! I'm glad you laughed at that part, cause the only reason I put it in was to make someone laugh and I succeeded. Thank you. As for the he you are referring to, it's not Merlin. But it will all be explained in time. And the reason Tristan is concerned is merely cause it's his fault she stayed so long. And being that the scout is so quick on his feet, he would have been able to figure out why they were fussing over her so, at least to an extent. The only reason he's concerned now is that if she dies, then it was because she stayed to long trying to bring him back. I hope that explains everything. As always glad you enjoyed it and thanks for the review.
ElvenStar5 – Glad you enjoyed it. Although I think two a day may be my limit when it comes to updates. I just don't type fast enough for more. Thanks for the review.
Sorceress Misha – Oh, I'm sorry. I forgot about that. If you just want to post the links then sure, I don't mind. Apparently 'My Ana' has been put on a C2 thing as well I noticed. Glad you're enjoying it so far. Thanks for the review.
Tracy137 – LOL. Glad to see a favorite line for you. Ah more pillow squeezing…yay! I don't know what's up with the reviews. Damn those reviews. The one to chapter 5 of Wild Child made me mad, cause I spent a lot of time on it. And it was long and everything. Bastards. Anyway, I'm glad you're enjoying it thus far. That is a pretty funny image! Makes me giggle. Glad you liked the part with the animals. I had fun writing it, and the image in my head still makes me giggle. A priestess making kissy faces at a snake is rather humorous. I'm glad you appreciate the research. I was hunched over my books a good part of yesterday, finding all the herbs and what they do. This gives a little more of Merlin and Mariska. They'll make up eventually but it's not going to be an easy thing considering her past. Thanks as always for reviewing Trace, makes me happy. Hope you like this chapter as well. Oh and I'm glad you liked my reply to her. I figured you would understand it best of all. Did you read her review? Not exactly something I would write to someone about their main character.
Sea Cucumber – Well I appreciate the thought of muffins, but must they be blueberry? I despise blueberries. Poppy would be good though. Glad you're enjoying it so far. I want to pull in the mystical and still make it believable. Judging by your review and others, I'm doing pretty good thus far. Thanks for reviewing, and again for the muffins.
Isolde – I never prefer of hearing how much you like 'Ana'. Makes me smile. Yeah, the Saxons must suffer for that. I figured it wasn't a complaint. Thanks for reviewing, makes me happy. I'll try to pause to give you time to review though.
Snape's Opera Rose – 3 Cookies! SCORE! Thank you. Addicted huh? Wow, how exciting. Thanks for the review.
FlamezBlaze1 – Glad you're enjoying it. Thanks for reviewing.
LANCELOTTRISTANBABY – Glad you liked it. Thanks for reviewing.
Cardeia – Yay you're back! I was wondering why you hadn't reviewed my story and now I know why. (And no I don't mind all the reviews at once. I prefer it actually.) I'll try to answer each one here. Chapter 1: I figured after facing off against an entire army, and then seeing two more of their friends fall, they wouldn't be in a boisterous mood. Glad you agreed. Chapter 2: Glad you like how I characterized the Priestesses. And Sonia. I wanted her to be kind of mothering while still obviously in a position of high power. A joust huh? Hopefully you had fun. Chapter 3: Since their Priestesses they have the power of extra strong bleach. ;o) I just wanted them to have a spectacular entrance, and it sounds like I achieved it. And glad this is giving you a good distraction. Chapter 4: There are a lot of reasons I want to be a nurse, but that is one of them. I've had a lot of dealings with the medical community as a family member to sick relatives, which also plays a part. You know, I never thought of that before, but you're right. He would want a good noble death, not one wasting away in a bed. You hit it right on the head it seems for what she's going to do. Chapter 5: Exactly what I was going for! I'm glad you could see it like I could when I wrote it. He'll start to breathe again, but it will be difficult. I can see why you would think of Tris as a mercenary type. He would fit the part well. As for the plot with this story, it's kind of writing itself at this point, which I love about it since it's coming out well. Yeah, that's Lance for you. And really, would you want to change him? I know I wouldn't. As for Mariska's line, it stems back to Lancelot's lack of faith. He has spent most of his life saying he doesn't believe or acting as if he does not, so to be confronted with trusting the Goddess to lead him home, he found difficulty with it. That fear of what if She decides to take it out on me now. So that's why Mariska told him how "She loves you despite what you think." Reminding him that he could still be forgiven, and was still loved. That's what she meant. Hope that clarifies it. I don't know that there will be resentments on Guinevere's part, but there may be on Mariska's. It will all come out as the story goes on. As for the triangle, I don't know. As for the magic aspects, I want it to be believable, and I'm glad so far I'm accomplishing that. Glad you're looking forward to more. As always thanks for reviewing.
Evenstar-mor2004 – Well since Merlin's already told the story we kind of have the abridged version of his part. It will all come out more later. Well, at my university, 4 and a half years. Two in pre-requisites and two in a half in nursing classes. I'm going into semester three in August, which means only a year and a half left to go. Thanks for reviewing.
Megan – Ugh, you again. ;o) Thanks for…uh…the one really long lined review. Really, did enjoy that. Glad you liked it though. Thanks for reviewing…if that's what you call that.
The Priestesses of Avalon
Chapter Five: Waking Up
"Forgive him."
Mariska woke with a start, setting up in bed. The voice. She had not heard it since she was a little girl and yet still she could never forget it. Her mothers voice. The voice that had guided her through most of her childhood until the day she had made the long trip to the temple. She immediately noticed the pain in her head and brought her hand up, massaging her temple slowly.
"Rest Mariska, you've had a hard day," a voice she vaguely recognized sounded to her left and she felt a hand resting on her shoulder, pushing her gently back onto the bed.
"What happened?" she asked groggily, feeling the soft pillow beneath her head and sinking into it.
"You lingered too long child, but your sisters and I were able to bring you back to us," it finally registered who was talking and she turned her head to look at Merlin, a relieved expression on his face as he sat in the chair next to her bed, his walking stick in his hands.
"How long have I been asleep?" she asked, still groggy, her mothers' words echoing in her mind.
"A good part of the day child. And the night is almost over," he smiled at her warmly. "She has not left your side since this all began," he added, indicating the owl that was perched at the end of the bed, her yellow eyes glowing in the moonlight coming in through the open window.
Mariska looked at her for a long time, before smiling. That bird was just as stubborn as she was sometimes, she mused before indicating the window. "Go hunt. I will live."
Vigdis cocked her head for a moment before hooting in reproach at her and flying out the window.
"She loves you a great deal," Merlin stated, watching the bird fly.
"We're all each other has," Mariska replied, the coldness returning to her voice. She would forgive him; she knew she had to, but just not yet. She couldn't bear to do it just yet.
Merlin sighed and leaned back in the chair. This was going to take a lot of time her realized, watching her closely as her walls began to shoot back up. They sat in silence for a long moment before Mariska spoke again.
"And how are the knights?"
"Well. Lancelot woke up and argued for a good hour with Esmeralda and the others about leaving here, and it was finally conceded that he stays one more night and if all still fares well on the marrow, he can return to his quarters. Dagonet and Tristan have been resting quietly, although the later looks a bit sad," he answered, grateful for the small blessing that she hadn't thrown him out yet. It was a start.
She remained quiet, but looked past him and over towards the bed next to her; Tristan was sleeping soundly, his back to them. "And Esmeralda and Hayley?"
"Since the men were doing better, Arthur insisted they get some rest. I told them I would watch over you until you woke," he reached over and brushed a stray hair from her face. She flinched but did not pull away. "They are in the men's rooms for the night."
She nodded slowly; glad they were not there. The last thing she needed was them hovering and fussing over her. Scolding her for lingering too long. "Good, they have been working hard, they deserve the rest."
He nodded in agreement and regarded her closely before speaking again. "Why did you linger so long? You, who knows the risks most of all."
She looked at him closely for a long moment before speaking. "Who told you?"
"Hayley. I was concerned as to why you would go at all, especially on more than one occasion."
"They needed me to," she indicated the men surrounding her.
"But at such a cost?"
"Do not…do not think for a n instant you have the right to tell me how to use my gifts. I would do it again," she glared at him for a long moment. "I am tired, please leave me to rest."
Merlin sighed and nodded slowly, rising, placing a lot of support on his stick. "Rest well child," he added, giving her shoulder a squeeze before walking slowly from the room, closing the door silently behind him.
She sighed and looked towards the door for a few moments before rolling over onto her side, looking towards Tristan and the chair Merlin had just been sitting in. She frowned slightly, noticing something resting in the chair he had occupied. Rolling further over, onto her belly, she picked it up and brought it into the light, being given off by the candle resting on the table next to her bed, studying it closely.
"An olive branch," a deep, somewhat hoarse voice said and she looked up to lock eyes with Tristan, the scout watching her quietly, the candlelight playing off his face, making him look more handsome than usual. "He wants peace with you."
"So it seems," she sighed, turning the branch over in her hands before placing it on the table next to the candle, settling on her side to stare over at him, her hands tucked under the pillow. "How do you fare? Besides being well enough to ease drop."
"Well, despite the pain," a ghost of a smile passed over Tristan's face as he moved to face her as well, hiding the pain well behind his emotionless features. "And you?"
"Tired but well," she smiled at him, pulling the blanket higher about her shoulders. "Are you in much pain?" she asked suddenly.
"No more than I can bear."
"You must let me help you then," she threw the blanket off and rose slowly, clutching the bed as her legs went to give way.
"It is not necessary," Tristan tried to rise as well, this time flinching at the pain from his injuries.
Ignoring her instability, she was at his side in an instant, helping him to sit up. "Here, you try to do too much too soon," she said, grabbing another blanket from a nearby trunk and throwing it over him, wondering which herbs would fight his pain the best.
"I am not alone," he replied, holding her in his gaze.
"You think I do too much?" she asked with a slightly shocked look.
"You almost died," he stated matter-of-factly.
"Perhaps next time you will listen to me then. Besides, it would not be the first time," was the uneasy reply as she began to fuss with the blanket.
"Really?" he raised an eyebrow, inviting her to continue.
Their eyes met for a moment and she sighed, sinking onto the bed near his feet, looking over at him. "One day, but not today. Unless you care to tell me more of Miranda?"
He merely looked away, towards the open window, for a moment before turning back to her, shaking his head slowly as he slowly sank back down in the bed.
"Sleep well then," Mariska said, rising and walking over to her own bed. "Your family was beautiful," she added softly before extinguishing the candle.
Authors Note: Wow, this is really short. I wonder why it took as long as it did. Writers block I guess. Anyway, this chapter is one of my "favorite" kinds to write. A little something I like to call filler. It's only meant to help the story move on a bit. I'm not too happy with it. Hope you all enjoy it though. Let me know. And although her and Merlin haven't made up per say yet, it's a start.