Out of Darkness Comes the Light - Chapter 3

Disclaimer: I don't own anything or anyone you may recognize. I don't even own the title. If you think I have ripped you off, sorry. This came purely from my own imagination, such as it is. I don't even claim that my story is any good...

A/N: Here you go folks. Another one done. I tried to get the various feelings in here. I hope I succeeded. I'm praying that it flows okay. And we get to see a tiny bit of Cassandra.

I've done a little more research, so my wording may change a little in this story.

Winged Seraph, op: Thank you! Onward we go.

dtmitchell: Yup, he's one angry man. And confused to, I think. And no, he won't.

Marianna: I'm happy that you're surprised. That's what I'm here for. And Cassandra will be a subtle entrance. Though I'm not sure who she'll tackle. Suggestions are helpful and welcome!

Cardeia: Again, you give me hope. And inspiration. As quickly as you review, I wonder if I'm the only one addicted to the computer. Ah the wonders of having both a laptop and a PC. I'm not even home right now. I have printed your last review and it sits pinned near my computer.

But, I have worked hard on this chapter. And I'm hoping everyone can see at leaste a little of what Teagan is thinking. Gawain sees it, but the others are just being blockheads.

And Cardeia, here are your 'Ghosts!'

As it turned out, the knights had to stop.

Teagan gave a sharp gasp as Tristan's horse stepped into an uneven spot in the ground. Which caused the animal to stumble, in turn, causing Tristan's arm to tighten around Teagan.

Teagan's eyes flew open with the pain in her ribs. Her fingers automatically gripping Tristan's cuirass.

Something wasn't right, she wasn't with Gawain anymore. Looking up, her eyes met Tristan's. She became rigid in his arms.

"Put me down." She hissed through gritted teeth. She tried scooting off the horse, but his arms held her firmly.

"No. You are hurt."

"I know that. Put me down." She started struggling to get away from his so much that he nearly lost his grip on her. Her struggling brought the attention of the other knights.

Cursing, Tristan stopped his horse, releasing his grip on Teagan. The moment his did, she slid from his horse and collapsed on the ground. Dismounting, he knelt down to her, trying look at her and not touch her at the same time. For some reason, his touch was agitating her so muchand it was confusing him.

As soon as Dagonet came closer, he jumped off his horse, running to Teagan. As he knelt down to her, Tristan stood and moved away. Far enough away that he wouldn't be a hindrance, but close enough that he could still see her.

0o0o0o

Teagan lay there, letting Dagonet wrap her ribs, her eyes never leaving Tristan. He looked the same, but she could see something different in his face. In it she saw an anger, and a sadness that she hadn't seen before. His eyes glittered with it.

Tearing her eyes away from Tristan, they wandered over to Lancelot, who was talking to Cassandra. Her lips curled into a small smile. Always after the woman, he was. His trip to the netherworld had not changed that. She briefly wondered if they even realized that they had died. Gazing at her friend, she understood why so many woman were after this man. He screamed masculinity. His dark hair and eyes. Eyes that could look into your soul if you let them. When Lancelot laughed, his eyes laughed. Teagan loved this man's eyes and was grateful that someone had thought to give him back.

And that body. He didn't walk, he sauntered. Though she had never seen him actually battle, she had seen him practice. No one could wield those two blades with as much force or precision than he.

Save Tristan, and she wasn't ready to think about him yet.

The only problem with Lancelot, was that he was a letch. He knew he was good-looking and played that to his advantage. One day, he was going to find a woman who didn't fall for his charms. A woman who was going to knock him off his feet. And when she did, Lancelot was going to shine.

Teagan gasped as Dagonet touched her ribs in a particularly sore spot. Her eyes caught movement. Tristan had seen her discomfort and was moving towards her.

"Sorry, love." Dagonet tried to be more gentle.

"S'alright Dag." Teagan hissed as the pain raced through her.

0o0o0o

Cassandra watched as Teagan tried to mount the extra horse the knights had brought, only to have him literally taken out of her hands by the one called Lancelot.

"Give me that horse. Let me go."

"No." All four knights said at once.

Cassandra looked from knight to knight and then to Teagan. They all stood close together, wills battling to dominate over each other. Cassandra felt she was in the presence of some very significant people.

Teagan's hands were on her hips and her face showing anger. Well, not anger, as her eyes betrayed her emotions. No, she wasn't angry at these men, Cass thought. She was frightened. Though why was a mystery. Teagan had never mentioned these men. In fact, she had rarely spoken at all. These large men obviously cared for her a lot, especially the two dark ones. They loved her very much. If one was not near her, the other was.

Cassandra sighed. What she wouldn't give to have someone care for her this way. Her tribe didn't believe in such emotions as love. Her people believed in violence. They took what they wanted. Usually by force.

"Let her ride alone." Gawain finally spoke.

Everyone looked at him, incredulous. "No. Her ribs. They need support."

Teagan's temper flared. Her hands turned into fists at her side. "I don't give a rat's ass about my damned ribs."

Gawain placed a calming hand on her arm. "Then ride with me."

"Why not me?" Lancelot looked hurt.

Teagan pointed to him, Dagonet and Tristan. "You are a figment of my imagination. A nice figment, mind you. But any moment, I'm going to wake up and find this all a dream."

Tristan just stood there, watching. There wasn't much he could do. There was nothing he wanted more than to see her safe. And right now to him, it would be on his horse, in front of him. But, he wouldn't force her into anything she didn't want.

Dagonet took a step to her. He watched as she took a backstep. He was beginning to realize something. Teagan was afraid of them. Himself included. He could see it in her face. He glanced at Tristan. If he could see her fear, surely the scout would. But Tristan's face showed nothing. He was very good at hiding what he truly felt.

"No, love. Were are real. We are here." He said softly, trying to calm her fear.

Teagan stepped back further into Gawain's arms. He was real to her. Solid. She shook her head at the three, her eyes showing her tiredness. "No. You are nothing but ghosts."

0o0o0o

The men gathered by the horses, away from the woman, lest they hear them talking about them. They all wanted Teagan to ride with them. 'To help with her injuries.' They said. Gawain didn't know what each man was thinking, he only knew that they were crowding her. And to him, Teagan looking like she was ready to bolt.

"She has to ride with somebody. She can't ride alone. She needs the support." Dagonet insisted.

Gawain knew this to be true.

Lancelot snorted. "Of course she does."

"But, she doesn't even want to be near us." This from Tristan. He sounded hurt.

Gawain nodded his head. "Exactly." So he compromised. "Let the women ride together."

"You're taking her side?" This from Lancelot. Arthur had charged him with leading this little mission. And upon finding Teagan, she had shunned them all. For some reason, she was afraid of them. He didn't know why, but since she had refused to be with Tristan, he had been hoping she would stay with him.

Like Tristan, Lancelot had been worried about the redhead. His heart had nearly given out when her horse, Aodh, showed up at the gates. Without her. He had been disappointed in finding her gone. He missed her company. Always calling him a letch. Glancing over to her, he saw her frail, broken. He wanted to comfort her, to make everything better for her.

Gawain stood to his full height. "Yes. I am."

"Why?" All three knights looked at him expectantly.

"It is so obvious. The last she saw of you three was in the ground. Dead. You, Lancelot, were nothing but ashes. And now you all are running above the ground like nothing has happened."

He paused, taking a breath. Looking at his friends, his own temper was rising. Dagonet was okay, but the other two, they were acting like they had been slighted. Wronged in some way. They wanted Teagan's undivided attention and she wasn't ready to give it.

None of them spoke, but Dagonet hung his head ashamed. He got it. He was beginning to wonder if it had been wise for Arthur to send them on this mission. Oh, he understood Tristan's presence. The silent man had been hurting inside since his return. Tristan needed to know what had happened to Teagan, that much was obvious. But this was not going as it had been hoped.

But Lancelot? He was close to the girl also. They were such good friends. And maybe Arthur thought that sending him would help Teagan's own return. He shook his head. He just didn't know.

Gawain continued for the benefit of Tristan and Lancelot. "This must be confusing to her, having you back. Especially seeing you." He gestured to Tristan. "I know you are hurting. But so is she."

He sighed, heavily. "You can't force her to accept you three. If you do, she will run."

0o0o0o

As Cassandra looked around her surroundings, she was constantly drawn to the knights. And Teagan. She was connected to them, this she knew. And the way Teagan reacted to the one they called Tristan, she knew it was more than a simple connection.

She had overheard them talking about 'coming back.' Though back from what, Cass didn't know. Judging from everyone's reactions, this was not the reunion that everyone had hoped for. Teagan had mentioned 'ghosts.' But these huge men did not look like ghosts to her. She smiled at the remembered feeling of Dagonet at her back. No, he was solid, that much she knew.

"You don't want to go back. Do you?"

Teagan was glad that she was sitting in front of Cass. She didn't want the younger woman to see her face. "No." As she said this, her eyes were fixed on the knight in front of her.

"Oh my! He's the..." She started.

"Stop, Cass. Don't say another word." She interrupted. "You speak it, even in a whisper, he will hear it."

Cassandra tightened her hold of the woman in front of her. This woman she hoped to call her friend one day. She gave Teagan an embrace that she hoped would give her some comfort.

A/N: Well, I hope it went well, that maybe you can see why she's skittish.