A/N: Yes, this story still exist :-)

I'm very sorry for the delay but I had some problems with this chapter and so it took me a little while.

I hope Tristan is not to much ooc in this but it seemed to me that he could understand Lance the best in his grief for his horse (as I tried to explain at the end of the second chapter :-)).

It's beta-readed and so all remaining mistakes in grammar, spelling or expression are mine.

Once again: Feedback is very welcome!

But now enjoy!

Chapter 3

When Lancelot entered the fortress he realized how cold it had been outside the entire day. After his talk with Arthur he felt indeed better but he was still mourning for Toros and so he had no wish to join his fellow knights in the tavern.

While Arthur went back to the tavern to tell the knights that he had found Lancelot and that he was allright, Lancelot made his way to his room. Only now he noticed how tired he really was after two more or less sleepless nights.

"At least this night there should be no reason to wake me up again until tomorrow morning", he muttered satisfied when he reached his room.

In normal case it took him a little while until he found enough peace to drift in sleep after a busied day but this evening he fell asleep as soon as his head touched his pillow. Two nights with only a little sleep were too much, even for Lancelot. But Toros' death dogged him even in his sleep and often he woke up during this night. Once he found himself sitting upright, tears running down his face. Quickly he dried his tears and hoped that he hadn't had scream in his sleep this time. It would not have been the first time that he had cried so loudly that he woke up some of the other knights. Especially Galahad and Gawain who were sleeping in the rooms next-door were sometimes disturbed by Lancelot's nightmares.

One time he had screamed out so loudly that even Arthur had heard him. And in no time first came Arthur and then nearly all knights had shown up, some with their weapons in their hands.

Luckily no one appeared this time to ask what was going on here. Relieved Lancelot laid down. Even when his fellow knights knew that he was grieving for Toros he didn't want that anyone saw him crying like a child. Soon he fell asleep again.

The remaining night passed peacefully.

When Lancelot woke up in the next morning he felt that something was different than usual. Through his closed lids he realized that it was remarkable light in the small room. While he was lying on his right side still slightly dozing he heard familliar voices. He turned over on his back and slowly opened his eyes. Finally full awake he detected that the voices came from outside. Lancelot stood up to have a look out of the window and was surprised to see that the sun was standing quite high. It had to be nearly noon! Lancelot could not remember such a long undisturbed sleep for a long time.

On closer inspection he saw Arthur, Galahad, Gawain and Bors outside despite the cold and the snow gathered on the yard and discussing about something.

Quickly Lancelot get dressed and made his way to the yard.

When he passed the stables the memory of Toros came back to him. Lancelot hesitated before walking on. He remembered how many times he had been standing here before entering the stables. And nearly every time Toros had felt that that his master was close to him. He had always shown his joy about Lancelot's visit by snorting and neighing so loudly that the other horses got nervous, too.

In time Lancelot had developped this in a game between him and his horse. Every time before he had entered the stables he had stopped out of sight waiting for Toros' typical expressions of pleasure. Only now he had got in, always a small reward for Toros in his hands. Lancelot thought of Toros' nervousness before leaving the stables. It nearly had been if he was looking forward to every mission of the knights.

But this time nothing except the normal sounds of the other horses were heard.

Lancelot forced his rising sadness back and walked across the yard.

Arthur, Gawain, Galahad and Bors were still standing at the same spot where Lancelot had seen them before. Under consideration no one of the knights had noticed Lancelot approaching them.

Just when he had almost reached his friends Bors finally saw him. "Wow, look there! Our sleeping boy has finished his beauty sleep. I have to remember that it could be of use to sleep through half the day."

"Yes, but when I look at you I think just sleeping would be useless in your case, except you would sleep for ten years at least." Lancelot retorted.

The other knights burst out laughing.

But soon they returned to their original subject.

Swiftly Lancelot found out that they were racking their brains about Tristan who had apparently disappeared during the last night.

"I saw him yesterday evening in the tavern but when I left he had already gone", Gawain remarked.

"Yesterday evening I saw him too but no one saw him today. And nobody has an idea where he could be", Arthur answered.

"It seems to me like a contagious illness. Yesterday Lancelot was missing and today it's Tristan. I wonder who would be the next who disappears", Bors thought loudly and let his gazes wander over the knights present. Finally Galahad caught his eye. "What about you, Galahad? What do you think about some holidays?"

The youngest knight just grinned and warned: "Don't give me a stupid idea like this!"

The knights decided to wait and see if Tristan would appear again until the evening. If this hadn't come to pass they would beginn to search for the scout.

With this agreement the five knights returned to their individual pastimes.

Arthur and Lancelot returned to the fortress. On the way Arthur began to speak: "I see you feel better today. That's good. What do you think about a little sparring fight or doesn't your wound allow it already?" he asked.

Lancelot was slightly annoyed about this second part of Arthur's question but he knew that this question was well-meant and so he supressed his anger.

"That's a good idea. I was already afraid that my swords would rust tightly in their scabbards. But keep this stupid, small scratch out of it! It's nearly healed up. Besides, I would beat you even with just one hand!"

In this moment a loud rumble was heard.

Arthur grinned while Lancelot pressed both hands on his rumbling stomach. "But I think I should eat something at first", Lancelot remarked as he realized that it was not without disadvantages neither to sleep nor to eat for nearly two days. But the last day he had not felt like eating something. He hadn't even felt hungry. This had changed now.

"Yes, I think that, too. I would be irritating if your stomach makes such noises during a sparring fight" Arthur considered. "And if I beat you, you will finally say that you just lost due to your empty stomach."

Lancelot just snorted and went to the tavern to see if he could talk Vanora into giving him the leftovers of yesterday evening.

Arthur didn't doubt that Lancelot would be successful.

"I'll see you at the sparring field when you're replete", Arthur shouted but Lancelot just made a impatiently gesture.

Lancelot was very succesful in his plan. Half an hour later he left the tavern but now with a full stomach and very satisfied.

He went back to his room to get his twin swords.

When he reached the sparring field Arthur was already waiting for him, Excalibur in his right hand.

Lancelot drew his twin swords, looked at them for a moment and finally said: "Let's prove that you're worth to be a keepsake of Sarmatia. Now we'll show this conceited Roman how to use a sword." This last sentence was uttered loudly enough for Arthur to understand this. Arthur was glad to see that his closest friend was back to his normal behavior although he knew that it would take Lancelot some time to come to terms with the lost of Toros. But at least Lancelot had stopped avoiding every group of people to grief alone.

An impatiently shout brought Arthur back to reality: "What are you waiting for? If we don't start soon I'll be frozen to the ground!"

With a loud clash Excalibur and the twin swords met in the middle of the sparring field and the dangerous dance began.

But even if no one of the two knights wanted to be beaten by his best friend both of them were very careful not to hurt his person opposite.

Lancelot swung his swords back into a defending position after a swiftly blow which Arthur had blocked by lifting Excalibur up. The heavy blade cut through the air when Arthur moved forward to attack Lancelot once more. Lancelot crossed his blades to catch the heavy blow.

All maneuvers of Lancelot and Arthur were meant to disarm their opponents because Lancelot and Arthur had an agreement that every sparring fight would be finished as soon as one of them was disarmed. But this time it seemed that no winner would be declared. Neither Arthur nor Lancelot lost his weapon.

Not long after they had began their weapon training the first spectators arrived, attracted by the clatter of the swords.

During the last three days the knights had enjoyed their free time for it was very rare but gradual they started to bore and so they were grateful for every change.

Especially Galahad was so absorbed in this sparring fight that he didn't realize that another knight showed up and took up position beside him.

"How long is this going on yet?"

Galahad was startled by the voice and turned around to see who was this speaker. He was very surprised to see Tristan standing beside him.

"Tristan, where've you been?" he asked the question he was dealing with the whole day.

"I had something to be done that could not wait", the scout answered.

Dagonet who was standing near just grinned at the scout's brief reply.

In this moment Arthur lowered Excalibur. Nearly at the same time Lancelot brought his blades down.

"How about saying that this time the fight ended in a draw?" Arthur asked, slightly out of breath after fighting for nearly an hour without break.

"You're getting tired? But all right, I don't want to beat someone who can hardly hold his sword because he is so overexerted", Lancelot teased, also a little bit breathless.

Arthur was just about to say something similar about Lancelot's fitness when Tristan suddenly interrupted the discussion

"I know it's a shame to disturb your little banter but there's something I've to show to you", he addressed Lancelot and left his fellow knights behind, completely at a loss.

Lancelot exchanged surprised glances with Arthur and hurried to catch up with Tristan. The others followed far behind.

Without another word Tristan went to the stables.

After arriving the entrance Lancelot hesitated again to enter the stables. Tristan turned. "What's the matter? Are you afraid of horses recently?", he asked.

Lancelot pulled himself together and followed the scout. The last thing he wanted was to show someone his feelings in this moment. But like in the morning he had to force back a deep sadness once more when suddenly the image of Toros lying on the hay ground, covered with sweat and dying appeared before his eyes.

In the darkest corner of the stables Tristan stopped and beckoned Lancelot over to him.

Now getting curious Lancelot approached the corner and recoiled as soon as he recognize what Tristan had wanted to show him.

A black horse was standing there. At first sight Lancelot thought Toros were standing in front of him so great was the resemblance.

"Yesterday I heard you talking with Arthur by pure chance and I thought I could solve your problem about getting a new horse", Tristan just explained.

In bewilderment Lancelot devoted himself to the horse to get to know it not knowing that his problems had started right now.

Tbc

Drakcir: I'm really sorry for the delay.

I'm glad that you liked the second chapter. What about the third :-)?

Surreal13: Thank you very much!While I was writing the second chapter it came to me that Tristan probably spend a lot of

time just accompanied by his animals. And the end of chapter two was the result.