A/N - Wow! One Hundred Reviews! Thank you SO much. . You have made me a very, VERY happy girl! You all are amazing and I love each and every one of you! I hope you all enjoy this chapter, I'm so sorry it took so long, but here it is. . .Enjoy!
Seren - star
Cadarn - strong
Chapter Thirteen : Two Vows and a Debt Repaid
Bright, late morning sunshine lazily filtered down through the row of windows high up the stable wall. Its golden rays caught, suspended in the dust swirling through the air, as Brenna entered through the wide front doors. She nodded a greeting to Jols and gave him a brilliant grin as he paused on his way out the door.
"Good morning Jols."
"Good morning Lady Brenna."
Brenna laughed and shook her head, her eyes lit with a spark of mirth, as she stared across at him.
"Now Jols, did I not tell you that I am no Lady? Brenna will do just fine."
Jols bowed slightly, a mischievous glint in his dark blue eyes.
"You could 'ave fooled me miss, but as you wish. . . Brenna."
With that he excused himself and hurried on his way, while Brenna stepped onto the soft dirt floor of the exercise area in the center of the stable. She stood for a moment, just breathing in the scent of leather, horses and fresh straw, before she moved further into the building.
From the hallway off to her left, she heard Ahern bellow a greeting, having heard her entrance. Some of the other horses shifted nervously in their stalls at the stallion's call, but a few soft words from Brenna calmed them.
She raised her eyes as Aithne screeched her own greeting to her mistress, then swooped down to land on her outstretched arm. Brenna scratched the hawk's head and smiled at her, then reached into her ever present pouch and fed her a few scraps of meat. Aithne bobbed her head and squawked happily, then rubbed her head and beak on Brenna's arm. She laughed at the bird's antics and placed a kiss on her soft head, then released her to join Caedmon on their perch high above.
Maelgwyn stepped out of Kalen's stall just as she approached, and she moved into his arms for a hug. He smiled down into her eyes as he brushed her hair back and placed a kiss on her forehead.
"Good morning love. Did you sleep well?"
Brenna smiled back up at him as she returned the hug and kissed his cheek.
"Yes, I did actually. Amazing what a difference a real bed makes."
Feeling left out, Ahern snorted indignantly, tossed his head, and kicked the wall. Brenna laughed and turned to the stallion, pulling out of Maelgwyn's arms as she moved closer to the stall.
"And how did you sleep then, Master Ahern? Was your stall to your liking? Straw comfortable enough?"
Ahern snorted once more and nodded, then gently butted her with his huge silver head, searching for the treats he knew she had. Smiling, Brenna scratched his massive neck with one hand, as the other dug a carrot from the leather bag she carried and held it out for him. He gently and delicately took it from her hand and crunched happily on the offering. She stood for a moment, stroking his silky soft muzzle, and talking with him.
Maelgwyn leaned on Kalen's stall door, absently stroking the black's neck, as he watched her and the stallion. A fond smile lit his features as he listened to her quiet words and the snorts and snuffles Ahern gave in response. It continually amazed him, this bond that they shared. It seemed as though Brenna had only to think something and the stallion would respond.
A soft snort to Brenna's left drew her attention and she placed a kiss on Ahern's muzzle, then turned to the source of the noise. Two more glossy heads peered out over their stall doors, watching their mistress intently, hoping for their share of the carrots.
The first, a beautiful red-gold chestnut mare named Seren, tossed her white starred head and stretched toward Brenna as she approached, a carrot in hand. Brenna hugged her about the neck and fed her the treat, then moved on to the next stall.
In this one stood Cadarn, a massive liver chestnut gelding, who looked quite intimidating to anyone that didn't know him, but was actually as gentle as a lamb. She combed her fingers through his flaxen mane as she fed him a carrot as well, then turned back to Maelgwyn who still leaned against Kalen's door, smiling at her.
"What?" One dark eyebrow raised questioningly, she slowly stalked back toward him.
"Nothing." Maelgwyn grinned at her and handed her a brush. "They are all fed, watered, and their stalls cleaned. I've finished grooming Kalen and Cadarn already as well. If you will do his Royal Highness, I shall take care of Seren."
Brenna took the brush from his hand with a laugh and turned to open Ahern's door. She stepped into the deep, sweet smelling straw and closed the heavy wooden door behind her. As she began to run the brush over the stallion's sleek hide, she glanced over at Gwyn as he entered the neighboring stall and began the same with Seren.
"Not that I'm not grateful, but you did not have to do all of that by yourself. Why did you not wake me sooner?"
He met her gaze over the half wall separating them and stared at her for a moment before slowly answering her question.
"You needed the sleep. You've not had much lately, and I was not about to wake you when there was no need to."
"Oh." Brenna broke her eyes from his, suddenly very intent on grooming Ahern. She knew what he meant and did not wish to talk about it. She could feel his worried gaze on her for a few moments more, before he turned his attention back to Seren.
They continued on in silence, each lost in their own thoughts as they worked. They were just finishing up when a pair of voices could be heard entering the stable. Brenna smiled at the sound and gave Ahern a last hug and a carrot, then stepped out of his stall just as Galahad and Lancelot came down the aisle.
She greeted them each with a hug and a kiss on the cheek, then turned to the trunk in front of Ahern's stall to put the grooming supplies away. Galahad chattered brightly as she did so, about the plans for the day. First and most important was food, then there was training, and then possibly a ride about the countryside.
A few minutes later, the small group stepped out into the bright sunshine. Her eyes having become accustomed to the slightly dimmer interior of the stable, Brenna shaded them with one hand until she could see properly once more. When she could, the first thing she spied as she fully opened her eyes, was a very large wooden watering trough just ahead and to her right.
A flicker of an idea flashed through her mind and quickly took hold. Her eyes twinkled with a mischievous fire as she glanced from an unsuspecting Galahad, walking a pace ahead talking animatedly with Lancelot, to the full trough of cold water, then back again.
Maelgwyn, walking alongside Brenna, caught the glance and could almost see the wheels turning in her brain as she plotted her attack. He sighed and leaned closer, his voice startling Brenna from her thoughts.
"Just what do you think you are doing, you little vixen?"
Recovering immediately, Brenna shot him a purely angelic look of wide-eyed innocence.
"Me? Nothing. Nothing at all."
Maelgwyn arched an eyebrow at her, not buying the innocent act for a second.
"I know that look. It means nothing but trouble."
Brenna merely grinned wickedly and, without warning, stealthily launched herself at her unwitting target. Before he even knew what had hit him, Galahad was in the water, and coming back up red faced and sputtering in agitation. Believing it must have been Lancelot, he began yelling at him, trying in vain to right himself and get out of the trough to beat the pulp out of his cousin.
Though she tried her hardest to maintain a blameless expression, the sight of him flailing about in the water, with Lancelot looking on completely stunned, was simply too much for her. After nearly choking herself to death trying to hold it in, Brenna finally gave up and gave in to the laughter. Two sets of eyes immediately whipped in her direction and stared at her in stunned amazement as she clutched at Gwyn, trying to steady herself as her body shook with mirth.
"You!" Galahad exclaimed, his silver blue eyes wide with shock. "Why!"
It took Brenna a few moments to compose herself, before she was finally able to answer, one hand wiping the tears from her eyes as she did so.
"I could not resist. Besides, that was simply revenge for the time you threw me in the pond right before our birthday feast! You ruined my best dress, and I never did get you back for that one."
Galahad narrowed his eyes and fixed her with a petulant glare.
"I would have thought you'd have long forgotten that, it was many years ago."
"Yes, it was. But in case you've forgotten, I have an excellent memory."
She stepped forward then, hand outstretched to pull him out of the frigid, unplanned bath.
"Come on then, we are even now."
Brenna had but a moment's warning, a faint glint of the eye, before Galahad tightened his grip on her hand and yanked her toward him. In a desperate attempt to stay dry, she shrieked and grabbed for the nearest object with which to anchor herself.
An object which, unfortunately for the both of them, was Lancelot. Caught off guard, he as well was dragged along in her wake, the three of them ending up in tangled mess of bodies, crammed in the trough. All of them struggling to right themselves, a task made all the harder as the lot of them erupted into a fit of laughter.
Maelgwyn, standing safely off to the side, was about to move to their aid when Arthur came striding into the courtyard on his way to the stables. The Roman stopped dead in his tracks and stared in astonishment at the sight before him. Green eyes questioning, he turned to Gwyn.
"Do I even want to know?"
The Sarmatian grinned at him and shook his head.
"No, you most likely do not. It was merely the repaying of a very old debt."
"You're right then, I don't want to know."
Shooting a last glance at his Knights as they finally managed to pull themselves and Brenna out of the water, Arthur nodded to Gwyn and continued on his way.
Nearly an hour later, the trio had dried off and changed from their soggy clothing. Now they, along with Maelgwyn, entered the tavern in search of food and their fellow Knights. They found both, as the Knights were all gathered around a long square table, platters of cheese, bread and fruit covering the scarred wooden tabletop, along with mugs of ale and wine. They quickly found seats, Brenna between Gawain and Galahad, and Maelgwyn and Lancelot across the table from them, between Tristran and Bors, and were soon enjoying the food and the lively conversation.
Maelgwyn leaned back in his chair as he carved into a shiny red apple. He popped a slice into his mouth and sighed contentedly, as he let his eyes wander across the table to where Brenna sat. He smiled when he saw her animatedly conversing with Galahad and Gawain, laughing at something the latter had said, which caused her twin to redden and scowl at his friend.
It gladdened his heart to see her so happy, alongside her kin and newfound friends. For too long she had been haunted by her memories, and he hoped that in being here with them once more, that her happiness would overshadow the darkness of her past.
A moment later, his thoughts were interrupted when Gawain leaned in toward Brenna and whispered something in her ear, which caused a renewed outburst of laughter. Galahad's scowl deepened and he tried to reach around her to get his hands on his so called best friend. In his quest to do so, his arm knocked over his tankard of ale, spilling it in Brenna's direction.
Somehow, in her scramble to escape the liquid, Brenna tripped on the hem of her dress and ended up sprawled in Gawain's lap. One of her arms around his shoulders, the other resting against his chest, and both of his securely wrapped around her waist. They stared at each other in stunned surprise, both of them frozen in shock, sapphire blue eyes locked onto silver-green.
The table around them burst into laughter, but neither of them noticed.
Gawain's hand moved as though of its own volition, to brush back a stray curl that had escaped her long braid, while his other arm remained firmly about her waist. When he realized what he was doing, he stopped his hand just short of touching her and, cheeks slightly reddening, he cleared his throat and released his hold on her.
Brenna's own face flushed under the intensity of his gaze as she slid from his lap back into her own chair. She was unsure what had just transpired between the two of them, but was entirely disconcerted by it. The feel of his body pressed against hers, his arms snugly about her waist, his chest firm and strong beneath her hand, and the unfathomable expression in his eyes, had left her somewhat breathless and confused. Something she'd not experienced often, and never due to a man.
In an attempt to change the subject, and to escape for a bit to gather her scattered thoughts, Brenna snatched up their tankards and pushed back from the table.
"I shall get us some more ale."
Maelgwyn watched Gawain gaze after her as she made her escape into the depths of the kitchen and frowned slightly. None of the others seemed to notice the blonde Knight's expression though, as he turned his attention back to his friends, not even Galahad.
Gareth slapped his brother on the back and cracked a joke at which Gawain halfheartedly smiled and laughed, and Galahad scowled and shot him a nasty glare. While the rest of the Knights resumed their conversations, and quickly forgot the incident. Bors' even began hollering for her to hurry up with the ale.
But Gwyn did not miss the way the man's eyes crept once more in the direction Brenna had disappeared in, a strange look in the deep blue depths. Nor how he quickly looked away when she reappeared a few minutes later, smiling and laughing alongside Vanora. A tray full of filled mugs in the latter's hands and another tray of fruit and cheese in hers. As Brenna placed the tray on the table and took her seat, she flicked her eyes toward Gawain and mumbled a quiet apology.
He smiled at her in return and said something that Maelgwyn did not catch as Bors began once again to laugh uproariously at a tale Lamorak was spinning. Whatever it was however, it brought a smile to her face, and soon she was once more immersed in conversation with he and Galahad.
Gwyn sighed and went back to eating his apple, munching on a slice of it while his mind mulled over the scene he'd just witnessed. He'd never seen her react so to a man before, and he had to admit that it had him a little worried.
He had seen many a man stare lustfully at Brenna over the years, she was a beautiful young woman after all. Many had even tried to woo her into their beds, but never had she given any of them so much as the time of day. In fact, some of the more persistent ones she had introduced to the business end of one of her various weapons. After her experience at the hands of Atoll, she had vowed that no man would ever touch her in that way again, and to this day she had kept her vow.
Maelgwyn's troubled gaze grew more so as his eyes lit upon Kay, sitting at the end of the table to his left. The large Knight was staring at Gawain and Brenna, a look of pure jealousy in his ice blue eyes. After running a hand through his white-blonde hair, the man took a last gulp of his ale and slammed the stein down on the tabletop, before he rose to his feet.
"We are late for training! We had better go before Arthur has our hides!"
With that he spun on his heel and stormed from the tavern without a backward glance. Gwyn narrowed his eyes and watched the man's retreat as the others grumbled and pushed back from the table.
He'd sensed from the moment he'd laid eyes on the man, that there would be trouble where he was concerned. And now he was more certain of it than ever.
"Are you coming Gwyn?" Brenna questioned, her brilliant smile falling at the look on his face. "Is everything okay?"
Maelgwyn's frown dissolved and he softened his expression, smiling reassuringly at her across the table.
"Yes, I am fine. I'll be right behind you love."
Brenna searched his eyes for a moment before she nodded at him, took Gawain's proffered arm in one of hers and Galahad's in the other, then followed the other Knights out of the tavern.
As Maelgwyn rose from his chair and began to follow them, he absently twirled his dagger in his hands, his mind worrying over the problems at hand. He would have to keep a close watch on her, and especially on Kay.
It was nothing new to him to do so.
For every man that Brenna had warned off on her own, there were twice that many that she had never even been aware of. Those whom Maelgwyn had scared off with a black look or a threat. . . .or worse.
He knew she could handle herself very well, better than most men in fact, but he could not help but worry. Brenna was his entire world, she was all he had left and he loved her as if she were his very own daughter.
He would not. . .could not let anything happen to her.
For he himself had made a vow of his own on that dark night, outside that cave in the valley. Brenna knew not of his promise, he'd never spoken of it, but it had been made nonetheless.
On his knees, with only the full moon and God as his witnesses. Her bruised, broken form asleep inside, so precious, so innocent despite all that life had forced upon her, he had spoken the words that had changed his life. . .had given him the purpose for being that he had been so desperately searching for. Maelgwyn had sworn to protect her from harm, to keep her safe, to guard her life at all costs, from that moment on.
She had become his redemption from all he had done wrong in his life, all the lives he had taken, all the lives he had failed to save, even those most precious to him . . .and he would not fail to keep this vow.
Even if it meant his own life for hers.
A/N - Well, what did you think? A bit of fluff, a bit of angst. . . .okay, so it wasn't much more exciting than the last, but I hope you all liked it anyway! I really am sorry it took so long, and after you were all so good and gave me lots of lovely reviews! I've just had a crazy couple of weeks, not to mention the fighting with myself over my many ideas for the next few chappies and what order in which to do them, lol. Anyway, your reviews do inspire and encourage me, SO. . . .please, please, PLEASE review and let me know what you thought! To ALL my readers and reviewers. . .I LOVE YOU ALL! You are wonderful and make me so very happy! Knight cookies for everyone!