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: This chapter is dedicated to a certain cow ;o) who reviews my stories from time to time. Also PLEASE READ THIS: There was an error in chapter 4. Tristan's lover was supposed to have died eleven YEARS later, not MONTHS. It should be fixed by the time you read this, but just incase there was any confusion.
Dellis – Yeah it will be a hard time for him, but he'll manage. Thank you for reviewing.
Sorceress Misha – Glad you enjoyed it and yeah, I couldn't let her die without realizing what she did was wrong. Mariska is sorted out here. Thanks for reviewing.
Snape's Opera Rose – I am glad that you do. I just felt it had to be done. And I know they will succeed in getting past this. It had to be done but I am sorry you're sad though. And thanks for reviewing.
FlameBlaze1 – Glad you enjoyed it. Thanks for reviewing.
Tracy137 – Yeah, I was rather cruel to Wolvie in that one. But I am actually rather proud of it. Hell yeah with the swearing! Sorry, couldn't resist. I thought a little magic fun was needed, especially as angry as I had her. I'm just glad you didn't think it was too much. I KNEW IT! I knew that would be your favorite. I'm sorry to have made you cry again. Maybe I should just stop while I'm ahead. I knew you would love the part with Lucan and Bors. It's one way to keep them from leaving. Glad you thought Guinevere's death came off well. I didn't want everyone to be super happy over her death, but I wanted them to understand it was necessary. No, no Ysabeau/Lucan thing. And ramblings okay. You get to find out why it was necessary in this chapter. I hope it comes out all right.
Cardeia – Good to know I captured your attention at least. Guinevere wasn't my favorite person in the movie either, which is why it worked so well for this story. Glad you enjoyed it so much. I really was unsure about it. And I just had to get Lucan and Bors together for that part. Bors is so much like a large child himself, it works. Lancelot's love was different from Arthur's though. Arthur's was a more devoted, faithful type of love, while Lancelot's tended towards the more lustful love and longing. That is the way I'm writing it though, which is why Lancelot is starting to show signs of that devoted love, in his own unique way, towards Esmeralda. Hopefully I am able to capture both of their feelings well. Thanks again for reviewing.
Ryn the whitepanther – That's okay I understand. I would tell you what is going to happen, but would ruin the surprise. Thanks for reviewing.
June Birdie – Yes, yes I did. And I would give him to you, but my friend already beat you to him about three chapters ago. Sorry. I'm glad you enjoyed the chapter though. Sorry again, maybe next story I can find someone for you. Thanks for reviewing.
Lunawolf – Wow, you make that one line sound so threatening. Don't worry! I wouldn't do that to Tristan. Plus then the story would be pretty much over. Glad you enjoyed her death. I was afraid there were more people that would be upset about it, but so far so good. No one's been that mad. I do that all the time, with the thinking of more to say after I hit send. Glad you liked the chapter so much and as always thanks for reviewing.
Kungfuchick – Glad you don't hate me too much. You find out about Mariska in this chapter. Hope you enjoy it and thanks for reviewing.
Lilstrummrgrl527 – That's okay, happens to the best of us (especially if you're me). Glad you liked Bors and Lucan's little part. And will you stop saying you're wrong! You're still right in part. The other reason is she's afraid of losing someone she loves again. Thanks again for the review!
LANCELOTTRISTANBABY – Glad you enjoyed it. Thanks for reviewing.
Sea Cucumber – I think you meant little Celeste. You were talking about her daughter not Tristan's ex-lover right? Yeah I figured I'd give her redemption instead of just letting her die a two timing bitch. Glad you loved it, makes me happy. Yeah, I knew if any of the knights were helping him it would be Bors. Thanks for reviewing.
Evenstar-mor2004 – Yeah they really are great books and very interesting to read. Nice perspective on Guinevere there, just glad you're not mad that I killed her, and I'm glad you enjoyed her with her family. Thanks for reviewing.
Zelinia – Sorry didn't mean to make you cry! Ah yes Duncan, he is very nice in my mind and hopefully yours as well. And I'm glad her death didn't make you angry. Thanks for reviewing.
Quinn – Don't think I've ever been called a vixen before. Interesting. Glad you're not mad about her death. Hmm I'll see what I can do. I don't write explicit sex scenes as a rule, but I'm sure I can get some passion in there for you. You're welcome for the cookie but don't be counting Arthur out of the love game just yet. Thanks for reviewing.
The Priestesses of Avalon
Chapter Twelve: Meetings and Fates
"What's happening?" Lancelot asked, casting his eyes from Guinevere's dead body towards Mariska's violently thrashing one as Hayley tried to hold her steady, Dagonet and Tristan moving to help her while Esmeralda tried to force the frankincense down her throat.
"She drank too much poison," Hayley said, fighting with her arms. Lancelot moved forward then, taking one of Mariska's legs while Tristan took the other, Dagonet grabbing her arms while Hayley looked at them gratefully, moving to help Esmeralda get Mariska to drink the liquid.
Arthur's face was the picture of anguish as he looked down at Guinevere before sinking to his knees, taking her hands and crying silently as he gazed at her. This was all his fault. If he had only forgiven her, told her to stay back at the fort where she was safe, then perhaps she would still be by his side. "I am sorry," he murmured slightly, leaning forward and kissing her lips gently. "Forgive me. I am so sorry."
Merlin looked at her and the young man, grieving, in silence, the tears running paths down his cheeks through the blue paint as he watched her. If only he had been more attentive, stopped her from her games. Taught her to heed Destiny rather than let her live her reckless life. It was the same with Angharad. He let his own pride get in the way of protecting his daughters and now he'd lost them both.
As Hayley and Esmeralda managed to get the antidote into Mariska her body began to ease out of the convulsive stat to the point that the three knights were able to hold her still.
"Come Mariska wake up!" Esmeralda yelled at her, slapping her hard across the face. "Wake up you bloody cow!" she hit her again, harder this time.
Mariska's head moved to the side, blood rushing to the surface of her cheek, making it red, but still she did not stir.
"Who has the little hag angered today hmm?" a voice said from the doorway causing everyone in the room to start and turn to see a woman standing there, Saoirse on her shoulder and Vigdis resting on her right arm. She was around five feet three inches tall and well built with long sun colored hair falling in waves about her pale skin and a freckle in the middle of her left cheek. What was alarming about her though were her eyes, which were completely white.
"Jasmine?" Esmeralda asked, looking confusedly over at the new arrival, wearing the same garb that the girls had worn when they first came to the fort. "What are you doing here?"
"Who is she?" Tristan asked, inclining his head towards the girl, his eyes never leaving Mariska, who was unconscious on the bed, her breathing getting shallower as time ticked by.
"Sonia sent me after she had a vision and we received word from him," she inclined her head towards Merlin as she began to move about the room, taking off her cloak and throwing it onto a chair after sending the birds to settle on a nearby headboard. The knights watched her in awe, wondering how she could move so easily about the room when blind. "Now who has she angered this time?" she settled on the side of the bed next to Mariska, moving a hand up to move a hair from the other girls face, never looking down at her but instead over towards Hayley.
"Her Aunt defied Destiny and Mariska tried to bring her back," Hayley answered.
"So she's angered the Fates again eh? Figures," she turned her head to look straight ahead, taking one of Mariska's hands into her own as she placed her other on the side of the red haired Priestesses face.
"Is there anything you can do Jas?" Esmeralda asked, concern clear on her face.
"Most likely, but I need quiet. All of you must leave. Except for Hayley. You may need to tend to her when she is awakened," the young woman replied after a moments thought.
"Very well. Come," Esmeralda started leading everyone out, Lancelot and Dagonet handling Arthur while Merlin looked numbly over at his granddaughter before shuffling out himself. Only Tristan refused to go. "Come Tristan, we must leave."
"I make no noise," he replied emotionlessly, leaning back against the wall.
"You're heartbeats and I can hear it," Jas replied with an annoyed air. "If you wish her to live I suggest you leave now. There is little time."
Eyeing the woman coolly for a moment, he turned on his heel and left, Esmeralda shutting the door behind them.
"Who is she?" Lancelot asked, as he and Dag lowered Arthur to the ground, his body numb with grief.
"That is Jasmine, one of the Priestesses of our order," Esmeralda replied leaning against the wall tiredly. "When she was little the Fates stole her vision so that she could see them. Now she sees the world but not as we do."
"How do you mean?" Dagonet asked, looking between the young woman and the closed door to the infirmary, wondering if Hayley needed him.
"For her it is like looking at two worlds at once, this one and the one that the Gods and Fates reside in. When they found her years ago, she was no more than eight and had lived that way for over two years," Esmeralda sighed before continuing. "Most who have this gift fall to the depths of insanity within months of receiving it. She was still clinging on, albeit barely. She recovered once she was brought to the temple. Mariska and Hayley know her best, although Mariska is closest to her."
"You could not tell it," Tristan stated, his eyes boring into the door. This whole situation was causing a certain unease to fall over him and his mind was drawn back to Miranda's words to him, as they had stood in Elysia only six weeks prior.
'I love you Tristan, I do. But the world you live in was not meant to be lived in alone. I know you ache for me, but you are not the stone cold killer you seem to believe yourself to be. In your chest still beats the heart of the man I fell in love with. The man who fathered my son. You are a good man Tristan and deserve happiness. Loneliness is the worst punishment one can impose upon themselves. If you won't love again for your sake than do it for mine; let me know that you are happy and well cared for,' she spoke softly, as was her way, and caressed his cheek, running a thumb over one of the war tattoos.
'Why do you tell me this now?' he asked, pulling her nearer as he looked into her deep blue eyes, swimming in them as he had done when she was alive.
'So that when the time comes, you will not run from her. Another is on the horizon for you Tristan. When you find her I need you to know that it is alright to love her, for she needs your love as much as you need her own.'
He was brought back from the memory as Esmeralda began to speak again. "That is not their way, to be sentimental. Neither of them acts as if they like the other much but they are terribly close," she sighed and ran a hand over her face. "I only hope she can convince the Fates to not take Mariska's life for trying to interfere."
"Can they bring her back then?" Arthur asked from the floor, startling them all as they turned to look at him. Pain and grief swam in his eyes as he looked hopefully up at Esmeralda. Everyone present knew it was not of Mariska that he spoke.
"Nay. Once Atropos has cut a thread, there is no turning back," she knelt down before Arthur and placed a hand on his shoulder. "She angered Destiny Arthur. She knew the consequences of this as we all do and yet still she acted as she did. There was no escaping her punishment," she tried to sooth him but shrugged off her hand and rose.
"There is no destiny!" he growled out before turning on his heels and stalking down the corridor.
Lancelot and Esmeralda exchanged a look before he sighed, running his hand through his hair. She could see the hurt and pain in his eyes, knowing a part of him had loved Guinevere too. And an even bigger part of him was feeling guilty for what had happened between Guinevere and Arthur. But as he looked at her she saw something else. A certain sadness that she knew had nothing to do with what was going on around them. The same sadness she felt in her heart every time she thought of telling him she did not love him. Sighing she walked over and rested her head against his chest, bringing her arms about him. He looked at her oddly for a moment before wrapping his arms around her and sighing contentedly. It wasn't much but it was a start.
xoxoxoxoxoxox
Inside the room Hayley became unbelievably quiet, trying to not even breathe too loudly as Jasmine began the task of falling into a trance. She was letting her mind and body slip more into the world of the Gods than in the world of men and it was a remarkable thing to watch.
She concentrated on her breathing, and Mariska's aura, following it until she saw the cause of the problem. Next to the bed, but in another place and another time, the three sisters of Fate stood, black cloaks covering their bodies and long thin fingers caressing a long strand of thread. A thread that ran directly into Mariska's body, a pair of gilded scissors in Atropos hand.
xoxoxoxoxoxox
A few minutes later, but what felt like hours for the now seven men, one woman and one little blonde haired boy waiting in the hall, the door to the sick room opened and Jasmine stood there, leaning heavily on the frame but a triumphant look on her face. "I made a deal with them."
"What deal?" Esmeralda asked, detaching herself from Lancelot and stepping forward.
"She is no longer allowed to walk the Land of the Dead. So no one die," Jasmine answered. "If she does again, her life is theirs to take."
"Sounds fair," Galahad said, looking around at the others.
"Yes, but Mariska will not think so," Jasmine said after a moment, gazing down at Lucan, feeling his eyes upon her from his place next to Dagonet, his arms wrapped around the giant knights leg. "Do my eyes frighten you?" she asked, leaning over and placing her hands on her knees to regard him.
"No, I think their neat," he answered, examining them further.
Jasmine grinned and reached out, ruffling his hair before rising. "You have a brave son knight," she said before turning towards Esmeralda. "Where can I sleep? It was a long ride here."
"Our room is this way," Esmeralda said, leading her down the hall past Tristan and towards the sleeping quarters, the other knights gradually wandering off, Lancelot heading to check on Arthur, leaving only Dagonet, Lucan, Tristan and Merlin to converge on the sick room.
xoxoxoxoxoxox
Mariska groaned at the throbbing in her head. It was truly worse than it should be, and waking her from a rather peaceful, dreamless sleep. Moaning she brought her hand to her head and rubbed her temples, opening her eyes slowly to the dim light of the sick room. It was late that night and the room was illuminated by only one candle, which much to Mariska's distress, was sitting on the table next to the bed. Groaning again she rolled away from it, opening her eyes fully to see Tristan sitting next to the bed, diligently carving at the apple in his hand.
"How long?" she asked in a hoarse voice, looking around for a bit of water.
"A day," he replied, leaning over and pouring her some from a pitcher, handing her the mug as he regarded her closely.
She drank greedily, feeling the cool liquid rejuvenate her and her headache begin to subside. She watched him closely from the rim of her mug. He was staring at her just as intently, his hands idle between his legs as he rested his elbows on his knees, a thoughtful expression on his normally passive face. She finished her water and placed the mug back on the table near the bed, thoughts of what Duncan had said swimming in her mind.
'Always is an awful long time. Longer when you're alone. He could take care of you. We all think so.'
She sighed and settled back against her pillow, regarding him for a moment more, unsure what to say next. He was definitely attractive, she could not deny that. And strong and brave, and a fierce fighter. And had been the star of many of her dreams of late. But was she ready to risk it all? To love again and feel the hurt and pain and anguish that came with it when that person left you alone in this world, as they all inevitably did. She didn't know if her heart could take that pain again.
It was as these thoughts plagued her mind that Tristan began to speak, his eyes firmly trained on his dagger.
"We grew up in the same village in Sarmatia. Our mothers were friends and her father had been a knight as well. We became lovers and when I was commissioned to serve Rome, she accompanied me. We were both very young then, I can hardly remember how old exactly, and thought that nothing could ever touch us. We were happy together here for about four summers. I was different then. More like the others I guess you could say. It was easier to talk and drink when I was young and happy. Then one night, Woads attacked the Fort while we were away. We rode in for the last bit of it. They thought her a threat because she could use a bow, and was using it to her advantage," he paused, gathering his thoughts. He had never spoken of Miranda since she had died, and the other knights had learned to respect that. Even Bors had let it go, but not after a lot of trying. It was strange to him, that although difficult, it was easier than he expected it would be to tell Mariska these things. "She was six moons with child when one of them decided that it was best to shoot her through the heart rather than let her live." He looked up at Mariska then, their eyes locking. "When I found her, Vanora was with her, holding my dead son in her arms, covered in blood. She told me that Miranda had begged her to cut the child from her belly, and she could not say no. The child lived long enough for Miranda to die, but not long after that."
Mariska's hand flew to her mouth and tears pricked her eyes at hearing the tale. She could not believe that the people that were a part of her own blood could do such a thing. She felt sick and dirty and filled with hate. "What did you do?" she asked in a small voice, almost afraid of the answer.
"I killed them. Everyone who attacked that day that was not already dead fell at my blade. I was blind with the rage. It finally took seven men to stop me from riding off into the woods to hunt the rest," he said after a moment. "Then we buried them in the cemetery on the hill and I became what I am today."
She nodded slowly, understanding better than most. It was what she would have done, did do in a way. But while she could not hack her aunt to bits with her own two hands, she found the means to do so.
"There was a time that I would have killed you merely for being a part of their blood," he added after a moment before sighing, rising from his chair and settling on the bed next to her, setting the apple on the table and running a hand through his hair, the dagger finding it's way back into his belt. "You are like her in some ways, but in others you are very different. Miranda was sweet and pure and innocent. Naïve in a sense. But I loved her nonetheless. You are strong and powerful and know the world is not as perfect as it seems. But there is that sweetness about you. And a purity. You were willing to die for three men you never met and again for an Aunt that did not deserve the pardon. You are much like her, but you are much different as well."
They looked at each other for a long moment before Tristan leaned forward, kissing her deeply. It took her a minute, but Mariska's arms snaked up around his neck, pulling him closer and kissing him back, deepening it further. It would be hard, but she was ready to try and love again.
Authors Note: Hope Tristan doesn't seem too out of character with this. I just needed him to realize what she meant or could mean to him and put a little bit of what Miranda told him (at least in my mind) in there as well. Hope you all enjoy it and don't find him too out of character. Thanks to all who reviewed and please do so again.