Out of Darkness Comes the Light - Chapter 19
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...
dellis - You are right. But, I'm sure it was embarrassing to walk in a see that. Imagine walking in on your best friend. (grin!)
Sorceress Misha - I think I may. He seems to be getting a bit lonely!
Lady11Occult - NO! Cassandra is not bad! She's just worried is all. I promise you, she's not bad!
op - I know. Don't you just wast to hug him, and pet him, and keep him...(I'd personally like to do more than just hug that man!)
KnightMaiden - Just a little bit longer. Not this chapter. Maybe the next. Or the next.
Guinevere slowly approached Arthur as he sat in his study.
At first glance, it looked as though he was in deep concentration, his eyes staring down at the maps under him.
But, Guinevere knew her husband well, his mind wasn't on maps, it was elsewhere. It was still early and he had already been busy.
She moved behind him, running her hand across his shoulders. Even though her touch was light, she could feel the tenseness in him. "Tell me what you are thinking."
"I guess I don't know what to do about Tristan. About Teagan."
"She came back. Isn't that what you wanted?"
"Yes. But, you should have seen her. I really didn't think he would do this to her."
He let out a heavy sigh. First, Tristan had come confessing his treatment of Teagan, requesting to leave. Saying that he was no longer in control of his anger. That he felt unable stop himself.
Tristan had been so afraid that he would end up killing Teagan.
Arthur knew that Tristan cared for the petite red head. The fact that he was willing to distance himself from her to keep her safe was proof.
But Arthur didn't think that running away would be the answer.
Look what happened when Teagan had left. It pushed the scout over the edge.
Teagan. Arthur visibly flinched as he remembered the sight of her this morning. She looked battered.
No. Battered was to strong a word. Roughed up, maybe? He shook his head. He didn't know.
Then Lancelot had shown up at his door, not an hour ago. He had also confessed. Confessed to seeing Tristan and Teagan together.
Arthur wondered how much he had seen. Lancelot didn't mention any roughness. So, hopefully he hadn't seen that.
"Now, Lancelot knows what happened last night. And he didn't look happy."
"Does he want Teagan as a lover?"
Arthur shook his head. "No. He doesn't. He was mostly worried that Tristan didn't hurt her. He wants her to be happy."
Guinevere leaned into Arthur, running her hands down his chest, her body leaning against his. She gave him a kiss on his neck that sent shivers through his body. Then moving around him to sit in his lap, resting her cheek in the crook of his neck.
"Do you trust your men?" She asked him.
"Without question."
"Then I think that you should let them handle this. Trust them to do the right thing." She said as she fiddled with the leather cord that held his shirt front together.
Arthur looked at his wife. So beautiful, so intelligent. Her knowledge had helped him bring improvements and some sense of order to his life. She had been a source of strength for him. A calm reasoning in his ever changing world.
Arthur embraced his wife. He had been grateful that she had entered his life.
Carefully, he moved her back, bending to press his lips to hers. He groaned when her hand found it's way to the back of his neck, playing with the short hairs.
0o0o0o
Cassandra was helping Teagan with her bath. Right now, she was rinsing the soap from her hair.
Teagan flinched as the tepid water moved over the marks, the bruises. "What should I do, Cass? Should I hide them?"
Cassandra nodded. "I would. Though it may be a bit hard to."
"So tell me, Cass. What brought Lancelot to your room?" She grinned at her friend. "I mean, if he was that desperate for female company, he could have his pick of the lot."
Teagan watched as the small blonde woman blushed.
"He probably wanted to be closer to you."
Teagan shook her head. "No, it's not that." Her mind started to turn. Maybe, just maybe...
"He's worth the chase, Cassandra."
0o0o0o
Both Teagan and Cassandra entered the great hall, Teagan taking in who was present. And who wasn't.
She figured that Tristan wouldn't be, given what had happened. If it were up to her, she would be spending time alone right now also.
Her stomach grumbled, reminding her why she had ventured out. That and she needed to speak with Arthur. But, he wasn't present yet.
No one seemed to pay attention to her arrival. To which she was thankful.
She watched in appreciation as Cassandra moved to an empty chair near Lancelot, blushing a bit when she sat down.
The dark knight smiled at her, pushing his plate of uneaten food in front of her.
Teagan's ears caught the sound of a baby crying. Briac was sitting on Galahad's lap, fussing while both Galahad and Sage were in the midst of an argument.
Frowning at the bickering couple, Teagan wandered over to them, picking up the baby. She cuddled the baby, smiling when his fussing stopped.
Briac smiled at Teagan, his hand finding a curl and tugging. Still holding the baby, she bent low to Galahad's ear, whispering.
The young knight immediately brightened.
"Are you sure?" He looked from Sage to Teagan. "I don't want to put you out." He, along with everyone else, had been worried for her. In fact, they still were. Things weren't going to well with her and it hurt him to see her so unhappy.
He glanced at her neck. Teagan had let her hair loose in what looked like an attempt to cover herself. She was wearing breeches and a linen tunic that hid quite a bit. The shirt wasn't her's, or rather, hadn't been made for her. She had left it untucked and it hung to nearly her knees. The sleeves were long and held to her wrists with leather cording. But, there were still signs.
Signs of what was rumored to have happened last night. But, he didn't say anything to her. How would one bring it up anyway?
Teagan gave the baby a nuzzle on his nose, causing him to giggle.
Her day brightened, she handed the baby back to his father, her heart touched when he pulled Briac close. It was good to see him take an interest in the baby. She had been so worried at first when he hadn't. Now it was time to work on Sage. The girl was so infatuated with him that it was surprising that Galahad didn't see it.
Everyone else had.
Teagan smiled. He wasn't perfect at it, but he was trying. "Of course. I'll be fine."
She carefully took her seat next to Gawain, trying to find a comfortable position for her sore body.
"Where's Tristan?" Gawain couldn't help but ask. Word had already gotten around with the knights that she had spent the night with him.
Personally, he was relieved. She had made that all important first step in reclaiming her life. Far to long had she stayed in the shadows. Almost denying herself to feel, or to even think.
Now the man had taken a page from Teagan's book and fled.
"I don't know, Gawain. I don't have Tristan watch today."
She reached absently to the bowl of fruit in front of her. Picking up a piece, she brought it to her mouth nearly taking a bite when she realized that it was an apple. She frowned. She didn't particularly like apples. Dumping the fruit with a small thud, she chose a large strawberry, letting the juice and taste run down her throat.
"Someone's grumpy this morning." He laughed.
"Huh." Teagan only grunted. Taking a bite of another strawberry. She looked around the room, pointedly. Wondering who opened their fat mouth.
And by the way Lancelot and Bors were avoiding her gaze, she guessed that it was probably one of them.
Taking another bite of the strawberry, she leaned closer to Gawain.
She gave an exasperated sigh. "Does everyone know my business?"
Gawain let out a chuckle as he nodded, his long braids bobbing with his head. "Yup. You know how news travels fast in a place like this."
Teagan agreed. She just hoped that things didn't get to out of hand. Especially for Tristan. He was going to take the brunt of all this. "So who opened their fat mouth?"
Since Gawain had his wine cup in his hand, he pointed with it. To Lancelot. Then to Bors. Both men still were not looking at her.
Lancelot was into a conversation with Cassandra. Every once in a while he would glance at Teagan, then advert his eyes.
Bors was doing the same, only Vanora was the subject of his attention. At one point, Vanora looked at her, smiled, then walloped Bors over the head.
"Ow! Wench!" His cry brought chuckles from those present.
Teagan groaned. It was probably Bors who let it slip.
She was about to say something when Arthur entered the room.
Everyone present stood, them sat again after Arthur took his own seat, Guinevere next to him.
"Teagan, I'm happy to see that you could join us."
Teagan gave a polite nod of her head. "Thank you, Arthur."
"Now that most of us are here, I have to announce that we have a supply run to make. It should only take about two weeks. We'll leave as soon as Tristan returns with the dispatch."
At Tristan's name, all eyes moved to Teagan. Some shyly, some blatant.
She shrugged them off. She wasn't that man's keeper. She picked up the apple and bit into it before she realized what it was.
There were murmurs among the knights. They had been sitting for some time, they were ready for some fresh air.
0o0o0o
Teagan saw Lancelot standing over the balcony next to his room.
Moving to the knight, she gave him a hard shove, barely knocking him off balance.
"Creep."
Lancelot eyed Teagan warily. "I'm sorry, love. For telling."
"Huh." She snorted. She wasn't angry at him. It was bound to get out.
"In my defense, I was drunk." He gave her a weak smile, knowing she wouldn't buy it.
Teagan only glared at him, turning her back. "And I ran into Bors on my way to your room. It kind of just slipped out."
Teagan replied by taking his cup out his hands, draining its contents.
"Wench." He muttered under his breath as she handed him the empty cup.
Teagan settled herself next to Lancelot, her arms resting on the balcony railing, just slightly touching his.
"What brought you to my room?" She asked as she looked over the fort. It was a bustle of activity. Just about everyone was already well into their day.
She gave a slight smile as Bors' son, Gilly flew by underneath, chasing a small puppy.
Lancelot fidgeted a bit, shuffling his feet. He was already quite embarrassed about that.
"I was um...I was looking for...you." He stammered.
Teagan let out a laugh that was more a snort. "Liar. Cass told me what you were doing there. What made you go to her?"
He shrugged his shoulders. "I don't know. She was the first person I thought of. Is she mad at me?"
Teagan shook her head, linking her arm through his. "No. I think she was a little flattered that you were there." She rested her head on his arm.
Lancelot arched his eyebrows. "Oh really? She seems to be a nice woman."
"She's a good woman, Lancelot."
Both were silent for a while, until Lancelot let out a cough.
"Teagan?"
"Hmmm?" She was still looking over the fort.
"Are you okay? Did he hurt you?"
She lifted her face to his, her eyes still red. But her lips were not a puffy as they were earlier. Teagan lifted on her tiptoes, giving his a quick kiss on the cheek.
"He did nothing to me that I did not allow." She repeated what she had told Cass earlier this morning.
0o0o0o
It was early afternoon when Teagan decided to wander into the stables. She had neglected Aodh for these last few days and wanted to let him out for a run.
The though of letting Aodh run full out, her hair whipping with the wind would feel so good. It was early summer and already it was hot. She grimaced. Her body wouldn't let her ride now.
Teagan realized that she had been here for over a year now. So many things had happened in that year.
Walking inside, she was welcomed by the cooler air, stinky as it was. But she liked the smells of the stables. The horses, the leather.
She immediately recognized the figure of Gawain as he was currently shoveling horse manure into a waiting cart.
"Gawain!" She called as she moved to her horse's stall.
"Hey, love!" He called back, setting down the shovel and made his way to her. He moved to put an arm around her and laughed out loud when she sidestepped away from him.
"Are you saying I stink?"
Teagan nodded, her own laugh coming. It felt good to laugh again. "Absolutely." She looked around for Galahad.
"Where's your twin?"
Gawain leaned on the stall's wall, reaching his hand out to Aodh. The horse nickered in welcome, pushing his soft nose into Gawain's hand. "He's on watch with Lancelot today. What are you planning to do today?"
Moving into the stall, she started running her hands over his withers, over his back. "Plan on taking this beast out for a run."
Aodh responded by butting his head into her chest.
"Are you sure you're okay to ride?" Gawain asked her, his concern showing.
Teagan smiled at her friend. "I'm fine, Gawain. I'm not going to ride."
The blonde knight nodded, helping her settle a halter on Aodh.
"Have fun. With them two on watch, it should be safe."
"Thanks Gawain." Teagan said as she led Aodh out into the sun.
0o0o0o
The tall blonde figure stood watching Teagan. More and more he was convinced that this was the woman he had been looking for. Now he had to plan on getting her.
It wasn't often that she was alone. It seemed as if one, if not more, of the damned knights were with her. Or that small blonde woman.
Now, she was in the middle of the open, letting the horse run loose. The animal would run at top speed to the edge of the forest, turn around and run back to the woman. He watched as the horse did this several times.
She then settled herself near a tree watching the horse as he grazed on the grass nearby. Briefly, he wondered why she didn't restrain the horse. But then understood that there was no need as every once in a while, he would wander back to her, give her a nudge, then go about his business of grazing.
He looked high on the wall, there were two of Arthur's knights watching her every move.
He needed to get her alone. To figure out a way to get her away from them.
His attention was drawn from Teagan to a couple near the wall.
The man was trying to balance on the top of a barrel, swinging a wooden sword. He lost his balance and fell into a mud puddle.
"You stupid oaf! It's a wonder that my father let me marry you in the first place." Was heard from the woman as she laughed at her husband's antics.
And idea started to form in the mind of the tall stranger.
A/N: I so do want to let you all know who the stranger is. Not this chapter. Maybe the next. Or the next. It's soon though.