Chapter 4
On our way to the dinning hall, Gawain and Lancelot tried to make me a little more familiar with my new found home.
"This is the courtyard" Lancelot was saying, we spend time during the evenings here when we are home. "That place over in the corner, is our tavern, not to mention, Gawain's favorite hang out, he loves his drink, and his women." Lancelot continued.
"Thanks for making me out to be a drunken whore, Lancelot. No ,Taryn, what Lancelot was actually doing was describing himself, trust me, ask anyone." Gawain argued back.
"Well I don't really care what you do there you wont find me there." I said affirmatively.
"What can't handle strong drink, little girl?" Lancelot teased.
"No" I laughed back, "I am not afraid to admit it, I don't hold my liquor well, and I was not a pretty sight the few times I have drunk."
"Well we will just have to teach you a thing or two." Gawain stated. (I rolled my eyes at them both) "Besides, Vanora runs the place you need to meet her, she is Bors' woman."
"Bors?" I said questioningly.
"Ah, I forgot you have yet to meet the last Knight of our little band. You will meet him soon, he is quite famous." Lancelot said.
"Famous, is he your best fighter or something?" I asked.
They both started laughing at that. "Bors is a fierce warrior, but that is not what we were referring to." Gawain said. "You will see soon enough."
"We don't take our meals in the main dinning hall every night, only on special occasions." Lancelot was saying.
"Oh really what is so special about tonight." I asked. They both just stared at me.
"You mean he is doing this because of me? Please, Lancelot, just tell him, to eat where you always do there is nothing special about me." I said pleadingly.
"Don't worry little one, you are not going to have to give a speech or anything." Lancelot said patiently. 'Trust me it will be fine." He said while opening the two huge doors we came to.
I gasped at the sigh before me. It was not huge room, but bigger than any dinning room I had ever seen. It was décor of the room was perfect, not to fancy, but ornate in a way, it fit the knights perfectly. What shocked me the most was the table. It was round, a large, beautifully carved table.
"Your mouth is hanging open." Lancelot whispered. "Never seen a round table before?"
"I have, but I never expected to see one in a Roman establishment." I said.
"Well Arthur is not your typical Roman." He finished.
I then noticed that we were the last to arrive. Arthur was sitting in a chair across the table. Galahad, Dagonet, my father, and the man I assumed to be Bors were already sitting at the other half of the circle. Lancelot began to lead me to an open chair next to Tristan; I quickly looked up at him, and gave a quick shake of my head. Thank God he understood, he grabbed my elbow, and escorted me to the other side of the table between himself, and Arthur. Good, I thought I was much happier with this situation, until I looked up. I then realized I was sitting directly across from my father. Our eyes met for a moment. He was starring at me quite intently, although not the fearful stares I had received earlier, it was more of a thoughtful look. I could not hold it though; I quickly looked down at my hands.
"Well, your arm looks much better." Arthur was saying to me
"Yes, it feels much better, thanks to Dagonet." I nodded at him in gratitude.
"Can you believe, she did not even cry." Lancelot said. "Unlike someone else I know." He teased.
I looked up, and quickly looked around the table, and by the redness creeping into Galahads cheeks, I assumed it was him they were referring to.
"Ha Ha, I forgot about that one." The one called Bors laughed. "You cried like a baby Galahad." He finished.
"You all say that" Galahad shouted "But, I don't remember it happening that way!"
"My friend that is because you were to drunk, to remember" Gawain said.
"Yes, I remember also…" Tristan started, "but I remember someone yelling Mommy, quite loudly in my ear." He said with a slight curve on his lips.
Well he does have a sense of humor I thought, and that was pretty close to a smile.
Galahad jumped to his feet. "That is fine, have your laughs, I am going back to my room." He said.
"Galahad, Galahad, calm down" Arthur laughed. "After all these years you still can't take your fellow brothers teasing. "Here comes the food sit back down, Galahad, let us eat." Arthur finished.
I wondered if he thought at times he was there father/babysitter, instead of commander. The food was served; it was quite good, there was roast duck, creamy potatoes, fresh vegetables, and much more. I was so hungry, I only occasionally noticed Tristan starring at me. I think everyone realized I was half starved, by the way I was so ravenously eating, the conversations did not drift my way very often. Actually I was quite embarrassed when I realized how much food I had consumed, but it was the first meal in a long time I did not have to catch and kill myself. I was asked a few questions of how things were in Sarmatia, I tried to answer as vague as possible, I really did not want to tell them how bleak the situation actually was there, and there would be time later. As the last course was finished, everyone stood up, and started leaving. I was not sure where to go, so I followed Lancelot, kind of like a lost little puppy. We were stepping out into the hall, when I felt a hand on my elbow. I quickly looked up, it was my father.
"We need to talk." He said softly.
That was definitely the understatement of the year. I just looked at him and nodded.
"First I would like to check on my horse." I said. He looked at me thoughtfully for a moment.
"Yes, I suppose I would also want to make sure my animal was taken care of. Come we will go to the stables." He replied.
I wondered if I would ever learn my way around this place. There were many buildings, clustered within the small surroundings of the wall, there was no sort of rhyme or reason to how they were placed, which meant many streets with twists and turns. I tried making mental notes of our trip, so I could at least vaguely know where I was.
I loved the barn the minute I stepped in. It had a warm comforting feel, the sweet smell of fresh hay, the sound of the horses moving in there stalls, chomping their feed, it almost reminded me of our barn at home, other than the fact it was double the size. He led me to the stall where Black was being stabled. I could see he had been brushed down, and fed fresh hay and oats. He looked quite happy in his new home.
"Hello boy, missed me?" I quietly asked. He snorted in reply, I think he was trying to tell me don't you dare take me out of this stall, and lead me half way across the country ever again. I quickly ran my hands down his legs looking for any kind of injury after our long journey, and run through the woods. He looked just as fit as always. "Well, boy I whispered, I hope I am as happy in our new home as you seem to be." I said softly.
"Don't worry you will." I heard a quiet voice behind me. "We really are not that bad." Tristan said. I had not even realized he had followed me into the stall.
"You seem to know a lot about horses." He simply stated.
"Yes, my father taught me everything I know, he was a wonderful horseman." I said, and then realizing my statement, I looked up quickly.
He definitely caught my words, and I knew he would have many questions.
"I think it is time we go and have that talk." He said.
I nodded again. "Yes there is much to talk about." I said back.
"So, you are Sarah's daughter?" He asked.
"Yes, how did you know?" I surprisingly asked.
He laughed. "Well if you are claiming to be my daughter from Sarmatia, I suppose your mother would have to be the only woman I was with." He finished.
Thanks again to everyone who reviewed. You definitely all lifted my spirits. I will try to get another chapter or two up tomorrow. Yes Tristan and Taryn will finally have their talk, to tired tonight to add it into this chapter, sorry.