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: Wow, 15 reviews for the last chapter. I didn't know you all would love it so much. Thanks to all of you.
Sea Cucumber – Yay! Poppy muffins. Love those, thank you. Don't worry about the language, as it doesn't bother me. And I agree with you completely. Thanks for reviewing. I would have replied in the last chapter but the review came in after I posted the update. I'm glad you enjoyed chapter 8 as well and Tristan's confusion. I am trying to show how they are both growing since their past relationships. Thanks for reviewing, hope you enjoy this chapter as well.
Sorceress Misha – Yeah, poor thing. But the kids don't understand and I couldn't see her taking a fear of the plague well, what with what happened to her family. Hell, Tristan snuggles would have done it for me! Glad you enjoyed it and thanks for reviewing.
Lilstrummrgrl527 – No need to apologize or cry, so long as you're reviewing now. Thank you for such kind praise. I didn't know my story could have that affect on people, and I'm glad to hear it. I'm also glad you are enjoying my little tale so far. Thanks for reviewing and I look forward to hearing from you again.
Tracy137 – Well since it was just a filler chapter I didn't expect great things from it. I am glad you enjoyed it though and your favorite parts did not surprise me a bit. I could just imagine that Tristan, being Tristan, wouldn't be one to regularly go to his friends house, and since we all know about his love for speaking :rolls eyes: short and concise seemed to fit. I'm glad I'm not the only one who could see him doing that. I'm glad I still have him on character. But of course I'd be more than happy to help you with spells. Just let me know what type you are looking for and I'll hit the books so to speak. I understand about worrying about your dad. I don't tell mine a lot (over half my life really) just to keep him quiet and to keep the peace. Same goes with my sister and it's all for my mom's sanity. Yay, glad to hear it won't be too awfully long for that update. After the last one I'm still grinning like an idiot. Wonderful dreams it caused… And I can't wait to read it in the Erik story. Should prove to be quite amusing. Again let me know if I need to send Bors as well, to help Dag out. Or even one of the other brave knights, who have faced everything from death to the dreaded writers block! And I miss Bethan and Milo too. Especially little Milo, I loved those moments with his dad. Damn, now I must go re-read those chapters. No wait, YAY! I loved those chapters. And yes they are so stop arguing or I'll write my novel and dedicate that to you just to make a point:o)
Snape's Opera Rose – LOL! You're so sweet thank you! I don't think they're that good but I'm glad you are enjoying them so much. I love Tristan too, who couldn't? A Llama? Well, I don't know what I'm going to do with that but thank you just the same. :o) And I think you could go with a bit more sugar, but only a few grains as otherwise you might become diabetic. ;o) Thanks as always for reviewing.
LANCELOTTRISTANBABY – Glad you liked it. Thanks for reviewing.
Lunawolf – Yeah, Tristan is a bit more clueless than most. But I'm sure Mariska can help him out with that. Well, the children never said plague, but with Mariska's past, it kind of scared her a bit, especially when six children in a row come up with it. Ah yes! Gwennie is such a cow! Makes me happy that I'm not alone. He didn't start out following her. He just saw the children stopping her and decided to follow. But it wasn't his original intention, but there is a reason he's more, interested in her. Thanks for reviewing and I'm glad you enjoyed the chapter.
Zelinia – No, no stalking. He only happened to see her and then decided to follow after the children started talking to her. You are right, he and the girls are the only ones who understand, which was why I had him rat out the kids. Glad you think I've kept him in character. I'm glad you enjoyed the chapter. Thanks for reviewing.
Cardeia – LOL! Coffee break huh? How funny. I'm glad you enjoyed everything. I just had to put the part with the Bors clan. I thought it might prove to give the story more depth. You're right in why she cried. Whenever I become over stressed like she is, it usually only takes the tiniest little thing to send me through a box and a half of Kleenex. And I wanted to show how different they are with one another as opposed to with their former partners. So not only the reader sees it, but the characters are seeing it as well. And that sounds completely insane, but it's how I'm thinking it out in my head. It's not so much a comfort thing as a trust thing. She trusts him to show that side, which is a good thing. And that was exactly what I was going for with Tristan! That whole uncomfortable "there, there where is her best friend when I actually need and can stand her?" kind of reaction. I'm glad you enjoyed it all and that it could give you a nice coffee break. Thanks for reviewing.
Isolde – Glad to see you're still with me. Yeah, the Guinevere hate and distrust is quite common. I'm thinking of starting a club. I'm glad you liked that line; it's one of my favorites as well. So appropriate for the two of them, especially Tristan. Thank you as always for reviewing and I don't mind if they're out of sync with the chapter. Enjoy this one as well!
Babaksmiles – Glad to see you're back with me! That's okay; I've done that before. I was so happy when I discovered that alert thing. That's the only way I've kept up on most of the stories I read. I'm glad you love it so far. I wanted a more mystical approach and it gets more intense with this chapter. I just like to put more than one girl cause I can't think of the idea of any of my three favorite knights alone. (As it is I feel bad for Gawain and Galahad cause they don't have anybody.) As for Guinevere, well you'll see what her old habits get her into. Thanks for reviewing and I'm glad you found the story. Hope you enjoy the update.
TriGemini – Yes it was funny in a way. Glad you enjoyed it and thanks for reviewing.
Evenstar-mor2004 – I was out of Mountain Dew, but Diet Lime Coke worked just as well. Thank you, your so sweet. Glad you enjoyed it. Thanks for reviewing.
Dellis – Yes. You understood what I was saying perfectly, since you see him as the same way. He's not an overly emotional man, and avoids it in himself, so why would he not avoid it with others? Thank you for reviewing.
Kungfuchick – Glad to see a new face! I'm so happy you're enjoying this story. I'm rather fond of it myself, and those scenes are my particular favorites as well. Thanks for reviewing.
The Priestesses of Avalon
Chapter Nine: Plans and Betrayals
"Again, I apologize for his behavior," Dagonet said softly as he escorted Hayley towards the door where Mariska and Esmeralda stood waiting for her. "I do not know what has gotten into him."
"It is fine Dagonet," she smiled softly up at him, resting her hand on his arm. "He was just frightened we were leaving. I can understand the childrens actions." She looked up into his eyes and her cheeks flashed a light rose color as they gazed at one another. "Just have him ask next time," her voice was barely above a whisper and he leaned forward slightly, never breaking her gaze.
"Of course," his breath was warm against her lips, which were only a few millimeters away from his own. Mariska and Esmeralda exchanged a look, smirking at one another before turning their backs on the couple. It was then that Jols burst forward, ruining the moment.
"Dagonet, Arthur wishes to see you in the hall."
Hayley pulled away quickly, the blush on her face intensifying as she looked down and noticed his hand resting over her own, which was still on his arm. "I should be going as well. We have much to do," she said quickly, pulling her hand free and rushing away, Mariska and Esmeralda trailing behind her.
"Well done Jols," Esmeralda snorted sarcastically, an angry look in her eyes as she followed.
"What did I do?" Jols asked, looking bemusedly over at Dagonet who sighed in frustration, running a hand over his head, looking down to see Lucan, wrapping his arms around Dag's leg, gazing sadly up at him.
"Nothing Jols. Let us go see what our future King wants," he and Lucan shared a smile before he patted the boy on the head, and turning him in the direction on his cot, closed the door behind him, moving to follow Jols towards the meeting hall.
Meanwhile, across the fort, Lancelot was surprised to see he was the first of the knights in the hall. Usually it was Arthur who was sitting there waiting for them. He let out a sigh and walked around the room, sinking into his chair and taking out a dagger, cleaning his nails with it as he settled in to wait. He heard the door open and smirked. "It is not good to leave your chief advisor waiting so long, with nothing to entertain him," he teased, looking up expecting to find Arthur entering the room.
A look of shock passed over his face as Guinevere entered, shutting the door, throwing the bolt behind her. "Lady," he was immediately on his feet, his dagger returned to his belt. "I was expecting your future husband," he stressed the last word eyeing her closely.
"He is checking on the horses in the stables," she replied, walking slowly across the room, her long red roman style dress trailing after her. "He should be occupied for the next few minutes."
"Perhaps I should go assist him," Lancelot said, moving to walk past her, a wave of discomfort falling over him.
"I never took you for a coward," she spoke as he moved past her towards the door, causing him to freeze and turn to face her.
"Excuse me?" he asked, shock and insult clear on his face. He came up to face her, glaring down icily into her eyes.
She met his glare with one of her own. "You heard me. Why else would you send my father and those vile creatures to tell me to stay away from you if you were not too cowardly to do so yourself?"
"I sent no one to tell you stay away from me. I thought my open dislike for you would be enough of an indication," he growled back, his mind already turning. Who could have spoken to her on his behalf? Almost instantly the answer came to him. I will kill Esmeralda, he thought, still glaring down at Guinevere.
"Dislike, really? Then why did you save me?" she challenged him, stepping closer, her face inches from his own.
Fighting back against the feelings tugging at his heart and his body he clenched his jaw and answered, "Because you are my best friends lover. Same as I will save you if need be when you are queen. It is and was my duty," he ground out.
Unbeknown to the them, Arthur, Dagonet, Jols and Tristan had entered silently by the side door, and were watching the scene closely. Dagonet moved to break it up only to have Arthur stop him by placing a hand on his chest, staring intently at the woman he had grown to love, arguing with his best friend. Although, her body language betrayed her intentions as she leaned forward, exposing her chest towards Lancelot, a hand coming to rest on his own as she spoke again.
"I believe it is more than that," she almost purred, reaching her other hand up to brush a hair from his eyes. "Much more."
She leaned forward, her lips puckering and just as they were about to reach his own, she was gripped tightly about the shoulders and pulled back as Lancelot gave her a hard shake. "This is MADNESS!" He yelled at her. "You are to be Arthur, my dearest friend and brothers, wife! Save your kisses for him." He pushed her away, running a hand through his hair as he stepped back, turning to the table and resting his fists on it, leaning forward, his shoulders sagging in defeat.
"He need not know!" Guinevere tried, rushing to Lancelot's side and placing her hands on his shoulder. In the shadows near the corner Arthur's heart broke, and his eyes hardened as the other two men shared a look. "I love him dearly, do not think me wrong there, and he will make a good husband. But he does not have the passion for things that you and I share," she reached over and cupped Lancelot's face, forcing him to look at her. "He does not understand me as you could."
He regarded her sadly before speaking, his voice low but firm. "I will not betray him."
"It gladdens my heart to hear you speak so Lancelot," Arthur's cold voice rang out, causing Guinevere to spring back from the dark knight, looking like a frightened rabbit. Tristan and Dagonet followed him from the shadows, their hands resting on the hilts of their blades.
"Arthur," Guinevere breathed, moving towards him only to be sent back by the cold glare he directed at her.
Suddenly a chilled wind swept through the hall startling its occupants and they all watched as the bolt on the main door slid out of place, the door blowing open to reveal Mariska standing framed in the doorway. Esmeralda and Hayley were flanking her, Bors, Gawain and Galahad struggling to see over their heads.
"Why is this locked?" Mariska asked, her voice cold as she entered, flicking her equally icy gaze towards her aunt. The others following behind, including a sad and defeated looking Merlin, who regarded his daughter with a thick wave of disappointment in his eyes.
"Guinevere was just showing us how blind love can be," Arthur replied, his voice colder than any had ever heard it before.
"Arthur please, allow me to explain," she began only to be cut off.
"I do not believe it is necessary," he replied, holding up a hand to stop her. "I think I understand quite well." He looked at her for along moment before turning to Merlin. "You may crown me after this ordeal with the remaining Saxons is done. There will be no wedding," he added before stalking from the room.
Lancelot looked at Guinevere for a long moment, similar to the way he had when they had stood on the wall several months prior, when the Saxon fires burned on the Northern side. Anger clouded his eyes before he turned, striding out after Arthur, calling his name as he went.
Guinevere looked sadly at her father, unsure what to say when she felt a hand on her shoulder and suddenly found herself pinned against the round table, a blade at her throat. "I warned you you little wench!" Esmeralda ground out, Mariska and Hayley moving to stand on either side of her. She glared down at the frightened Woad woman, anger causing her eyes to turn a brilliant red, similar to that of her boa. "If we did not need the bodies for the coming evil, I would bleed you where you stand," she pushed the dagger closer against the girls skin, causing a small trickle of blood to run down her neck. "As it is, know that when this is all over, it is my wrath you should fear."
As quickly as the blade had appeared it was gone, and Esmeralda was strolling out of the room after the two men.
In the corridor Lancelot caught up to Arthur, grabbing him about the arm. "Arthur look at me!" he said, forcing his friend and commander to stop and turn to face him. "Talk to me!"
"Lancelot please understand that at this moment I cannot," his voice was almost pleading as he looked in his friend's eyes, the sadness about to consume him. "But know that I do not blame you." He pulled his arm free before strolling away, leaving Lancelot alone in the corridor, looking on in shock.
Suddenly a small hand wrapped around his arm and he looked down with a start to see Esmeralda, smiling sadly up at him. "Come, Mariska will debrief us later," she murmured, leading him off towards his rooms in silence.
xoxoxoxoxoxox
Before Guinevere could speak Merlin stopped her, his normally calm voice laced with anger. "You have defied destiny child. Accept your fate!" he stated before turning his back on her.
"Just because a man does not display his passion for the world to see, does not mean it is not there," Hayley said knowingly, casting a glance over at Dagonet as she went to take her seat.
"Or that he is deserving of heartless treatment," Mariska's voice was much colder as she brushed past Guinevere, purposefully hitting the other woman with her shoulder.
Looking to the knights Merlin began to speak again, closing the matter for now. "Our scouts have returned with word," he said, walking over to the seat he normally occupied.
Guinevere looked at him, the look of a dog that had just been whipped by its master for shredding his boots on her face as she slunk from the room, the knights and Priestesses sitting down, ignoring her as Merlin continued. "We have three days until they are at our very door."
"What does Arthur wish us to do?" Gawain asked, looking at the shaman. "Ride out and meet them?"
"Nay they are too far away," Mariska spoke up, from her place next to Tristan. Hayley, who had settled between Bors and Dagonet, nodded in agreement.
"But he just said they were but three days journey," Galahad said, clearly confused.
"Aye, three days by the way they travel, several weeks by the way we could," Hayley explained.
"They come the same way we came here. Traveling on the Goddesses own breath," Mariska continued. "It is a strong spell and takes a great deal of power to achieve," she turned her head towards Merlin adding. "And only our High Priestess and one other know exactly how to perform it." An angry frown crossed her lips as they exchanged a knowing look.
"Then what are we to do?" Bors asked, gazing between the two women and the shaman.
"We have developed a plan, but I would rather tell it with all the knights present," Merlin said, sighing, looking his age. "As for Arthur's part, he wishes you to remain here and defend the fort."
"If they have the ability to travel so fast, someone very strong must be with them," Tristan said slowly, as he looked over at Mariska. "How are we to defeat that magic."
"Leave her to me," Mariska answered with a small smile.
"Who is she?" Galahad's curiosity was getting the better of him.
"One of the old sisters from our temple," Hayley explained sadly, noticing the anger that crossed over Mariska's face, her fists clenching. "She betrayed our High Priestess and left her, and the rest of us, for dead."
"How'd she do that?" Bors asked this time.
"By bringing the Black Death into our walls," Mariska almost growled, her knuckles going white as she glared at a torch glowing off to the side of the room, focusing on it to keep the rage that was building within her from overflowing.
Tristan watched her closely before turning back towards Merlin. "So how will you defeat her?"
Merlin sighed, deciding he might as well tell them their half of the plan now, briefing Arthur and the other boy later. "We are going to raise a dragon."
xoxoxoxoxoxox
Esmeralda sat quietly on the bed, her hands folded into her lap as Lancelot paced the room, his emotions raging within him causing him to strike out at his unsuspecting furniture. "I should have done something more!" he growled. "He should have never known of this!"
"And how would that be better?" she asked quietly, her eyes following the path he made across the messy room, only made worse by his current temper. "So that she could betray him with another? It is best he found out now."
Lancelot whirled on her. "Oh yes, so he can know that pain! All for the best," he said sarcastically, glaring down at her, his arms crossed over his chest.
"Do not take your anger at her out on me," Esmeralda stated, rising and glaring at him. "This is not my fault and it is no fault of your own either! She is a wench who likes to play childish games! And she is where the blame should lie.
"As for Arthur feeling this pain, how much greater do you think it would be had he married her? Made her his Queen, and found out then of her nature? Looked into his child's eyes and wondered if it were his own? Knowing that every time he rode out to face an enemy or make a new ally, that his wife may be warming the bed of another? And worst of all, learning that his closest friend and confidant knew all along? Let him step into that fate and never said nay a word about her? It is best he find out now, believe me that much."
Lancelot sighed and ran his hands through his hair, seeing the truth in her words. It was for the best, but why did he feel so bad about all of this? He sank onto the bed and closed his eyes, the grief-stricken look his best friend had staring back at him. "Arthur is a good man. He does not deserve this," Lancelot stated finally, resting his elbows on his knees, holding his head in his hands.
"Aye," Esmeralda agreed, walking over to the bed. He felt it depress next to him and her hands came to rest on his shoulders, rubbing gently. "And neither do you," she added softly.
He pulled his face from his hands and looked up into her beautiful black eyes. Slowly he brought his hand up to the side of her face, stroking her cheek gently before he leaned towards her, capturing her lips in a soft tender kiss. They pulled away, looking at one anther, both not quite sure what to do next. Finally it was Esmeralda who took the lead, cupping his face in her hands and brining his lips back to her own, this time deepening the kiss. In a matter of moments his fingers were slowly pulling at the ties of her dress as they leaned back against the bed.
Authors Note: Originally I was going to make this and the next chapter all one, but it was getting way long and I have to get up early in the morning so this is what you get. I don't do explicit sex scenes as I am of the firm belief that the readers imagination is much better than anything I can come up with. But I do leave you all with this. You know what they're doing, so have fun with that. Read and Review and let me know if you all like it or not.