Disclaimer: Nothing you recognise belongs to me.

WARNING!

I think this chapter should probably be rated M. For people not of age or who are not keen on (fairly tame) smut and want to read the chapter, either send me a PM or email me (my address is on my profile page) and I'll send you a pg version of the chapter. There is some sexual content in this chapter.

Interlude.

As the sun set, Llynya was half escorted, half dragged back to their quarters by a very irate blond knight. Unable to actually shake her, lock her in the cellar, or even berate her while she was in Arthur's presence, Gawain had been forced to sit with a studied calm that went against his very nature, as Arthur discussed the trap that they would set and Llynya's part in it. The plan seemed fairly solid, or as solid as one could be with a million different possibilities to be taken into account. They simply did not have the knowledge to do anything beyond guess at the behaviour of the beast, and he was well aware that guesswork was a very dangerous thing when it came to weighing up an enemy.

Llynya had kept herself busy; making a stew out of a large cut of meat and a small basket of vegetables that had been delivered by a small boy, who was obviously not sure whether he should be more afraid of the beast or the big Roman and his knights. The boy had fled as soon as he had delivered the food, and Llynya had vanished into the kitchen to prepare it. Handing the stew out, she had not met Gawain's eyes, obviously aware of his disapproval, and he had had to clench his fists in attempt not to drag her out of the tavern and shake some sense into her. Tending Louisa, who seemed to barely remember her name, let alone care about what was happening, Llynya managed to persuade the older woman to change her clothing and eat a little of the stew, before putting her to bed. Balan watched her with shadowed eyes, his hand clenched tightly around his mother's, and obviously clueless as to what the knights were discussing. Gawain however was not, and his heart sank at the very real danger that Llynya had so thoughtlessly volunteered to face.

Now, alone and barely keeping his temper in check, Gawain looked at the woman he loved and wasn't sure whether to kiss her or strangle her.

"What were you thinking?" he tossed his sword and axe into the corner of the room they shared and looked at the young woman furiously. "This isn't a game Llynya, what on earth possessed you to offer yourself up like that?"

"Possessed me?" she did not flinch at his anger, crossing her arms over her chest and looking at him defiantly. "It is my life that is in danger, it is my right to decide if I wish to risk it."

"And you think that by endangering your life you'll what? Bring your village back, bring Charlotte back? It doesn't work like that Llynya, it.."

"Don't talk about them like that," she snarled. "I know I can't bring them back, but I can help those who are left."

"By killing yourself?"

Llynya glared at him and made for the door, only to be hauled back by a strong arm around her waist.

"Let me go," she spat at him, "I am not your property, it's not your choice to make."

"Not my choice?" he released her and watched as she stalked over to the fireplace. "The woman I love has a death wish, there are strange beasts gallivanting around the countryside, and I am fighting for a country I do not believe in and for a village that I have no loyalty for and no ties to. You are right Llynya, I have no choice in the matter at all."

Llynya frowned and narrowed her eyes. "Say the first bit again."

"I said that there is a tiger out there and you shouldn't be putting yourself in harms way."

"Not that bit." Llynya watched him carefully. "You said the woman you…" her voice faltered.

"Loved." Gawain ran a hand through his tangled mane and sighed. "I've loved you since I've known you Llynya, and the gods know I've tried not to. Please don't do this, don't put yourself in danger."

"You are worried because I am putting myself in danger?" Llynya looked at him incredulously. "You expect me to watch you ride off into battle with no idea if you will return in one piece, or at all!"
"That's different," Gawain growled, "I don't have a choice."

"It's not different, it's worse," Llynya snapped. Brushing her unruly hair from her eyes, she glared at him fiercely. "I have spent too long watching people I care about being killed, watching the destruction of innocent lives. I can help these people, I can do something other than cower in the shadows this time. At least I'm putting my life at risk for the right reasons."

"A village that is up to it's ears in corruption? A plan thought up by Tom, a man who near drank himself to death and was shipped over here to stop him killing himself or anyone else?"

Llynya paused at that. "Tom? I didn't…"

"Few do." Gawain slumped onto the bed, some of the fight leaving him. "Arthur got him out of Rome; he killed a soldier in a bar fight. He used to be master of horses to the second in command of the emperor, but after his wife died of the fever he lost his mind for a while. He taught the knights and I to ride, Arthur arranged for him to be shipped here before he could be tried and most likely used as sport in the gladiator arenas. I am fond of Tom, but I am not sure that I trust his judgement."

"He saved my life," Llynya said quietly, "I trust him."

"Maybe so," Gawain replied, "but this… thing, that we are facing is unpredictable. Woads, Saxons, that we can defeat. This is unknown, and as much as I trust my brothers, I do not know what will happen tomorrow - I cannot guarantee your safety."

"Nothing in this life is certain," Llynya said, walking over to him. "Not our lives, not our hearts." She cupped his chin gently and brushed her fingers over the stubble that marred the softness of his skin. "But we can choose what to believe in. We can make the decision to fight or run." She let him pull her down so that she was straddling his lap, and looked into the bright blue eyes. "I choose to fight."

"You will be the death of me," he whispered, flipping her over onto the bed and kissing her hungrily. His boots were discarded hurriedly, his hauberk cast aside and covered with Llynya's dress as soon as she had wriggled out of it. Gasping as he placed hot kisses upon her belly, she wondered if she should stop, wondered what people would think, and realised that it didn't matter. She could be dead tomorrow, they could all be dead tomorrow, but she would have this; come what may, she would have this night. It was hot and sweet. His hands were big and roughened from battle, his kisses fierce. Llynya clung to him with the desperation of one who knows that she is drowning, kissing him back, pulling at his clothes. He might have been talking, it might have been her whimpering; she didn't take any notice, she didn't really care. Wrapping her legs around him, she bit his shoulder as he entered her - the beast, the future forgotten, nothing mattered but the flex of his muscles beneath her fingers, nothing mattered but the taste of his skin and his sweat and bright blaze of pleasure and desperation as the world shattered around her. He found his own release with a primal growl, and pulled her close, the thundering of their hearts and harsh breaths loud in the silence of the room.

They lay together for a long time afterwards, sticky and sated, Llynya's cheek resting against his chest, his arm resting upon the curve of her waist.

"You are going to do it aren't you?" he said quietly.

She nodded slightly, but did not look up. " I have to."

"I understand. I don't like it, but I understand." Pulling the blanket up over them, he kissed her forehead. "And afterwards?"

"I will go with you. I will go to the wall."

He slipped into slumber then, his face almost boyish, the sweat cooling beneath her fingertips as she placed her hand over his heart.

"I love you," she whispered, but he was lost in dreams, and she followed him gratefully, her chin against his shoulder and her breath a faint ghostly plume dancing with his in the cold night air.

The night passed too quickly, as all good things seemed to, thought Llynya ruefully. She realised that Gawain was awake as he had tightened the arm that encircled her waist when she had first opened her eyes, but feigning slumber, she tucked her head against him and made the most of the few last moments of peace. Outside was death and revenge and sorrow. Here was peace and warmth and a love that she had almost turned herself inside out to forget.

"Is it morning?" she muttered to his chest.

"It is perhaps an overly bright dawn," he replied. "Stay where you are."

"Liar," she whispered, kissing his shoulder. "Do you really want your fellow knights to find us like this?"

"I once found Lancelot with a…" Gawain looked down at Llynya and laughed. "Never mind."

She smiled, untangling herself from the bedclothes and padded across the room, kneeling beside the pail of water that had been brought with an armful of firewood by an unknown villager the day before. Gasping a little at the coldness of the water, Llynya did her best to clean herself. Her dress was dirty, but having nothing else to wear she slipped it on anyway.

"We should go." She twisted her hair into a rough knot at the back of her head. "They will be waiting for us."

"Lynya?" Gawain had slipped from the bed, his broad chest gilded by the sunlight, his expression solemn. "It is not too late to change your mind. "

She smiled a little at that. "It was too late a long time ago. I am not afraid." Turning to look at the blond knight, she ran her eyes over him. It seemed a thousand years and just yesterday since they had met. Her village, Charlotte, the other knights and her obligations chased circles around her mind, but her heart had only ever followed one compass: wherever you go I will follow.

Slipping out of the door she left Gawain, unwilling to wait for him and too afraid to say goodbye.

A/N Sorry, sorry - very short chapter, but I'm losing internet access from Friday and wanted to put this up incase I lost it. As ever, huge thanks to the lovely reviewers from the last chapter. Reviews stop authors from becoming paranoid lol.