Chapter 26

Three weeks, three long weeks I had to wait, watching, wondering, and hoping. I went through the daily routine, riding, training, myself my dog, eating, sleeping, oh and avoiding Lena. I truly believed she was lying, but seeing her only infuriated me, and made me start doubting Gawain. I would not have to wait much longer though. For the news was already traveling through the fort that the knights had been sighted.

I did not want to appear over anxious, but I could not help it. I wanted to see them all and make sure they were all safe. I ran to the stairs that led to the look out station above the gate of the fort. They were all indeed riding toward us. One, two, I quickly counted until I made it to seven. Seven horses, seven riders they were all there, I slowly let out a sigh of relief.

I ran down to meet them as they came through the gates. "You are home!" I exclaimed with all the anticipation I had kept bottled in me the last three weeks.

"Ah Taryn, always stating the obvious" Lancelot teased.

"Well I was also going to say I missed you all, which may have been stating the obvious also. Instead I am now going to change it to, I missed you all dearly, but couldn't you have lost Lancelot somewhere?" I said with a slight smile.

"Now you're just lying, come and give your big brother a hug." He said walking toward me with arms outstretched.

"I will hug you, but you are not my brother, and I really wouldn't have cried if they left you somewhere." I said giving him a quick squeeze.

When I stepped back Gawain was standing next to me, but so where the rest of the knights. I gave him a quick nod and instead turned to Tristan. I linked my arm in his as we walked his horse to the stables.

"So did you miss me?" I questioned the silent man standing next to me.

"Of course I missed you, but I only missed you. I did not worry once." He said teasingly.

"Good, I told you I could take care of myself, and I have healed just fine while you were gone." I answered.

"And what else did you do, I can't imagine you sitting in your room all day, just waiting our return?"

"Well Tristan, you would be proud of me, I worked. I trained with the bow and sword several hours each day, and I also worked with Ursula, she is getting great at following the commands you taught me. She is doing well with the object retrieval, but I am having trouble teaching her to bite and hold on command, you will have to work more with me on that one." I explained.

"Well it sounds like you were busy, so you stayed out of trouble?" He questioned.

I thought about my little run in with Lena, but thought it best not to talk to him about it just yet. So instead I gave him a sweet little smile. "Now why would you ask that, do you think I am trouble?"

"No Taryn, but for some reason trouble seems to find you." He said with a hint of a smile.

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I spent the remainder of the afternoon with my father. I went with him up to his room, and sat in the chair next to his bed; as he lay down to relax. He filled me in on the trip. They new the Saxons were mounting an army. The question was how soon would they be ready to march, and were they even coming this way. Arthur was sending a messenger to Rome in hopes that they could find more information. The knights only had a few months left in their servitude to Rome, Tristan and the rest of the knights were in high hopes that they would be long gone before Saxon's set foot on this isle.

"Did you run into any conflict on the mission?" I asked.

"Only once we literally ran into a woad hunting party. They were not looking for us nor us them, but when we met what else was there to do but fight. We killed them all." He said bluntly.

"No one was injured were they?" I said hopefully, I knew they were all alive, but injury free was another question.

"Only Gawain." He replied.

"Gawain" I nearly shouted. "Oh my, I need to go check on him." I said standing to leave the room.

"Calm down, he is fine. It was not much more than a scratch. He could have easily been killed, but for some reason fate intervened. He was fighting one woad, and another one ran up behind him, all prepared to remove his head from his body. When the fool woad tripped on the body of a dead woad, and only grazed Gawain with his knife, as he fell to the ground it was almost comical." Tristan explained with a little grin on his face.

"So you watched all this happen and did not try to help him. What if the woad hadn't tripped, Gawain would be dead." I bursted out, suddenly angry with Tristan for being so casual about Gawain almost being killed.

The grin left his face and he gave me a calculating stare. "Listen to me now Taryn, if you would even suggest, I would let one of the knights fall without helping them, then you know nothing about me or the man I am. I care for them all as brothers; I would give my life for theirs any day." He said slowly.

I stared at the ground, for I could not meet his eyes. I did not mean to speak to him that way, but the way he told the story it sounded like he was all set to watch Gawain die. He was right though, I knew he would not do that. "I'm sorry." I said in a near whisper.

"You care for him a lot don't you?" He asked.

"Yes." I answered honestly.

"Taryn, Gawain is a good man, but he is a knight. He has lived the last fifteen years killing, drinking, and bedding woman. All of us have. We will be free of this bondage in a short time, but this way of life will still be burned into us. He would not be good for you. None of the knights would." He said.

"Tristan you don't know that." I argued.

"But I do, I am one of them. Only because I want what is best for you do I share this with you. We will return home soon, and there we will find you a suitable husband." He said.

"Tristan, I left home because there was a suitable husband there waiting for me. I respect you Tristan, but when I find the man I want to be with it will be my choice." I said starring back at him, my eyes no longer on the ground.

"So have you found him?"

"I'm not sure."

"Think hard about it Taryn, for life with a knight would not be easy."

"Tristan, I think I will go to my room, and let you rest. You must be tired after your trip." I was finished with this conversation.

"We will talk later than." He said as I was walking out the door.

"Yes later." I called back as I shut the door.

Great, Tristan knew. I should have known I could not keep anything secret from him. He had a way of reading everyone. I don't know why he is so adamant about me not being with one of the knights. There is an age difference, but not much. Many girls marry men twenty years there senior, what was a mere eight?

I needed to talk to Gawain, but for some reason now just did not feel like the right time. I needed time to think to clear my head. The afternoon was warm, almost too warm to do anything. A ride would be nice, but I did not want to chance overheating Black when the sun was shinning so bright. So instead I made my way to my room. With the window open I could get a slight breeze that would hopefully help cool me down.

I pulled my hair out of the heavy braid that was pinned on the top of my head. It had grown back nicely after my disaster with it last summer. I smiled at the memory of Gawain and Tristan cutting my hair. My relationship with both had changed a lot since that time. In my opinion for the better, but I am not sure Tristan would see it that way.

I had a plan for how I would approach the subject of Lena and the baby. If I was wrong, and somehow the baby would be Gawain's, any possibility of a relationship would be gone, it did not matter how much it would hurt me.

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Gawain did not wait for me to search him out. It was not long after I had lay down, that he knocked on my door. "Taryn can I come in." He called softly.

"Yes" I called back feeling my heart skip a beat as he walked into the room.

"Taryn why did you turn away from me?" He asked questioningly.

"Gawain before we say anything else I need to ask you something. If you care about me at all you will answer me honestly." I said as I rose from my bed to stand in front of him.

"Okay, what." He asked shortly, I think he was not happy with his greeting.

"Have you ever slept with Lena?" I said bluntly.

"Yes" He replied. "Why?"

"When was the last time?" I said continuing in the same manner of questioning.

"Taryn, I don't remember it was not important, so I don't know." He said with a flustered tone.

"Well guess. Please Gawain, it is important." I replied

He let out his breath in an exasperated sigh. "I would say at least a year ago, not to long after you had first come, but never since than Taryn, I am sure."

It was my turn to let out a sigh, but this time a sigh of relief. "Good, then you need to come with me." I said.

"Could you please tell me what is going on?" Gawain asked?

"You will know soon enough just trust me. Oh and I almost forgot." I said

"Forgot what?" He asked totally baffled by our whole conversation.

"This" I said wrapping my arms around his waist and pulling him close. "I missed you, and am so glad you are home safe." I said against his chest.

He pulled my chin up so he could see my face. "I missed you more than I ever dreamed I would." He said as he lowered his lips to meet mine. I met his warm lips but only briefly, before pulling my head back.

"Gawain we first have a rat we must take care off." I said seriously.

"You have a rat in your room?" He said looking around the room.

I couldn't help it, I had to laugh. "No Gawain, no rat in here, this rat is much bigger, it is probably in the tavern right about now." I said with a big smile. "Now no more questions follow me."

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She was there just as I expected, already busy with the night crowd. I had a still confused Gawain by the arm, leading him right to the rat herself.

"Lena" I called out to her, she turned so fast at the sound of my voice, I think her head nearly spun right off her slender little neck.

"Lena, you said you were anxious to tell Gawain something, so here he is." I said pulling on his arm slightly. I expected her to start sputtering, making up some story of why she wanted to talk to him, but what she said really did surprise mer.

"Gawain" she purred sweetly. "I wanted to tell you this in private, but since Taryn already knows my little secret, I am sure you wont mind her being here." She said smiling at me, like the cat that caught the canary. This was not at all what I had expected.

"Gawain dear, you are going to be a father." She said with the big smile still plastered on her face.

"What" he said another shocked look on his face. Poor Gawain, he did not have a clue.

"Not what, a baby. I am going to have a baby, and you are the father." She said sticking to her story. I was really confused. How was she going to convince Gawain that he was the father, when he knows it is not possible. Does she think he is just going to go along with her to save face.

"Lena that can't be possible, you don't even look pregnant." He replied back to her.

"But Gawain, I am. I'm only about four months along or so. The baby wont arrive until after your discharge, but I am willing to move." She said looking smugly at me.

"Lena I have not been with you for nearly a year there is no way that is my baby." He said rather loudly. For the first time Lena looked uncomfortable, our little conversation was starting to get a lot of stares.

"Gawain lets go somewhere more private." She said reaching out to grab the opposite arm of the one I was still holding onto firmly.

"Fine" He said following her into one of the back rooms.

"Taryn could you please excuse us." Lena asked not nearly so sweetly as before.

"No" Gawain answered for me. "Taryn stays with me." He said now pulling me behind him.

"Lena, you have been caught in your lie. Why don't you just admit it." I said to her. I expected a sharp answer, or some kind of snotty reply, but instead I saw tears falling down her cheeks.

"I am not lying." She sniffed. "Gawain we were together. Remember it was the night that you had all come home from that mission, the one Taryn went with you all."

"Lena you are mistaken." He said firmly, which gave me back some confidence.

"But Gawain remember, we sat drinking together, and talking, and then you went to my room with me. Don't tell me you forgot?" She said her voice at a shrill.

Gawain let out a little laugh. "Oh Lena, I now know what you are talking about."

"So you remember?" She said the smile starting to reappear.

"Yes Lena, but I remember the events a little different than you. See it started out you were rude to Taryn because she was sitting by me, and I wouldn't make her move. So you then attached yourself to Phillip, getting extremely drunk. You then left Phillip's side after Taryn left to come and join me. You were right we did talk but not for long, before I got up and left, do to your rude behavior. Next Lena you were joined by another man, if I remember right, and I believe I saw you leave the tavern with him." He explained calmly.

"Gawain you are lying, because you don't want to admit it in front of her." Lena shouted.

"I am not lying and Taryn knows it, because she was with me that night." He said almost triumphantly.

I saw the color drain from Lena's face. I can't believe it, but I felt sorry for the girl. She honestly had believed Gawain was the father of her baby, and now her dream world was being crushed by the bitter reality of it all.

"Then who, who was I with?" she stuttered.

Instead of answering her Gawain led her back to the main room of the tavern, and then he pointed to a far table. I let my gave follow his finger to a man with his back toward us. From the back he looked very much like Gawain. He had long brownish hair. It was much more unkempt than even Gawain's, but I could see how in a drunken state they could be mistaken for each other.

It was as if the man knew we were talking about him, for he turned around scanned the room until his eyes were on us. I then saw who it was Henry Blake, the forts black smith. He looked to be in his early to mid thirties, and besides his hair, he had no other attributes similar to Gawains. He had small closely set eyes, a very crooked nose, none of those features were his worst though. For when he laid eyes on Lena a big smile lacking several teeth appeared on his face.

I looked over to Lena, she was horror stricken, and I don't blame her. Her then already pale face got much paler, as she slowly started falling. I reacted quickly, and caught her before she hit the floor. "Gawain help." I said struggling under her weight.

"What do you want me to do?"

"She can't stay here. Pick her up, we are going to have to take her to her room."

I led the way to her quarters. The door was unlocked so I opened it and had Gawain carry her in and lay her on the bed. I saw a basin of water with a towel near it. I wet the towel, and came and laid it on Lena's forehead.

Slowly her eyes fluttered open. "What happened?" She asked looking around the room.

"You fainted." I answered. She looked at me, and then to Gawain the pained expression returning to her face.

"You both must think me a fool." She said having enough decency to hang her head in shame.

All the anger, and resentment I had toward her slowly vanished replaced with only pity. "Lena we have all done something stupid one time or another after drinking to much, so the only thing foolish you did was let yourself get so drunk you did not remember who you were with, and like I said I have been there." I said still not quite sure why I was being kind to this girl.

Tears were again flowing from her eyes. "Gawain I was so sure it was yours, but now it all makes sense." She sniffed.

Gawain patted her back softly. "What makes sense Lena?" He asked.

"After that night, you hardly even talked to me, but Henry Blake followed me around like a dog after a bone." She said in between sobs.

"Lena, you need to calm down it will be alright." I said to her.

"Henry Blake!" She wailed again. "Of all people why couldn't it of been Lancelot, or Galahad, or even a Roman, I am not sure he can even speak!"

Gawain started to laugh. "Lena he can speak, I have heard him, he is a good man just shy. He probably just has trouble speaking around you." This did not help matters she only cried more.

"Gawain, I don't think we are helping matters, lets go back to the tavern and find Helena and send her here." I said.

"Good idea." He whispered.

"Lena, I am going to get your sister for you." I told the crying girl. She nodded her head, and then turned to bury her face in her pillow. Gawain patted her head. "Goodnight Lena, and for what it is worth I am sorry." He told her.

After we left the tavern, we walked along the quiet street hand in hand. "Taryn you could have at least warned me." Gawain complained.

"Yes, but it was much more fun this way don't you think." I said wrapping my arm possessively around his.

"Taryn I don't know what I am going to do with you." He said shaking his head.

"I guess you'll just have to figure that out." I said. "But for now lets just enjoy the moonlight." I said turning my face toward the sky.

Thanks for all the reviews. Sorry it took so long to update. I had a horrible week. Constantine got voted of American Idol, (Its rigged, I know it is). And then to top it all off, my one year old cocker spaniel went missing from our yard, lots of tears. Please read and review, you are all great!