Out of Darkness Comes the Light - Chapter 20
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...
op - Oh yes, those two are lovely also. And here's your next installment.
Lady11Occult - Actually, the stranger has been introduced before in 'One Thing.' And don't worry, it'll be out soon.
dellis - I'm trying to in this chappie. But does Tristan want to be cleared?
Sorceress Misha - Thank You!
KnightMaiden - Here's the next chappie!
Caredia - Ahhh! Renn Faires. Wonderful things they are. We try to go to the Maryland Renn Faire every year. It's in October. Puke and Snot rule! A Marine I know does the Jousting Tournament. He carries the MC flag. Very Patriotic. Hewon last year. I can e-mail you a pic if you'd like.
I thinkmost of the men will try to ignore it. They think thatmaybe it will go away if they do. Remember,most only suspect. They don't know for sure.
AndI know you already know who the evil dude is. He's someone from her past.
She's not happy yet, but is working on it. I think she finally realized that life goes on. You either sink or swim.
A/N: Again, not one of my better chapters.
"Teagan?" Galahad quietly called, opening the door to her room.
"I'm here. Come on in." She called sleepily.
Galahad took in what he saw. Teagan was sitting up in her bed, her hair rumpled. Her eyes looked like they were having a hard time staying open. She fumbled a bit lighting the lantern.
He tried not to laugh. "Are you sure about this? It won't be to much?"
Teagan sat up, holding her arms out. "Just give me Briac. And go enjoy the day with Sage." It was early and she wanted to go back to sleep.
Galahad was about to hand over the baby when he stopped. His mouth flew open.
He had heard what had happened, but he hadn't seen for himself.
"Is that what happened to you?"
Teagan blushed, but didn't cover herself.
"I'm fine. Really. You going to give me Briac or not?"
He nodded, handing the sleeping baby to Teagan. "He did that to you?" He couldn't believe what he was seeing.
Teagan quietly lay Briac down, tucking the blankets around him. "Don't Galahad. Don't go there. I'm a big girl. Go. Enjoy herself."
Still sleepy, Teagan lay herself down next to Briac, quickly falling asleep again.
0o0o0o
She was again woken, this time with tugging on her hair.
Cracking her eyes, she peeked at Briac. The little boy had his face close to hers, giggling as he pulled her hair. She couldn't help but laugh with him.
Moving quickly, she grabbed him under his arms, pressing him down. Still laughing, she tickled him, causing him to squeal in laughter.
Soon though, she stopped, letting them both catch their breath. She took the time to look over the boy.
The boy she had thought would never make it almost a year ago. He had been so thin. He had such a rough start to his life. His mother dying, being shunned from the villagers.
And now he was so healthy. And happy. Galahad had accepted that Briac was his son. In fact, it was hard not to as he was an exact miniature of Galahad. He and Sage were doing wonderfully as parents.
It wasn't often that he fussed. But when he did, the entire fort knew.
Teagan smiled at the boy. Briac had a set of lungs on him.
She ran her hand over Briac's head, loving the soft feeling of his hair. It had grown over the months and Teagan wondered if Galahad had even had it cut yet.
'Probably not.' She thought. It was a lovely dark brown, the curls that his father had starting to show on him.
0o0o0o
Teagan was carrying a struggling Briac as she entered the kitchens. He had spotted the puppy and wanted to run after him. He was moving so much that Teagan almost dropped him.
She barely noticed that Vanora was sitting at the long table, chuckling over her exertions.
She gave the other woman a shaky smile.
In that moment, Teagan felt sorry for Galahad and Sage. She watched daily as Bors' children ran. They were in constant motion. Only stopping to eat and sleep. And even that was up for grabs at times.
If the strength Briac was showing now, in his effort to get down, was any indication, this boy would be off and running. And anyone would be hard pressed to keep him still.
"Hey, love. Bring him here." Vanora called to Teagan. "I've got some milk-toast left over he can have."
Teagan smiled at her, again wondering at her patience. The small girl in her lap was covered in gods knew what, laughing and bouncing.
"Thanks, Van." Teagan said as she slid her and Briac onto the bench near her. "I forget how heavy he is."
Vanora nodded, reaching out a finger and tweaking the boy on his nose, causing him to giggle. In another swift motion, she slid a bowl of warm milk-toast close to Briac. Who immediately dug his little hands into it, causing a mess.
Both women laughed. But he seemed to be getting a fair amount into his mouth, so Teagan didn't stop him. She could always give him a bath later.
"So how'd you get roped into this?" She asked Teagan. It was good to see her smiling.
"I volunteered." Teagan replied, still trying to hold onto a squirming boy.
0o0o0o
It was late in the afternoon when Teagan decided that she wanted a little bit of quiet time. They had spent the day playing with Bors' crowd, bothering Gawain in the stables and chasing a dog.
Not to mention the mud puddle he found or the pile of horse manure he decided would be fun to throw. Teagan rubbed her head where a particularly hard lump had connected with her temple.
And Teagan was tired. Briac was now sleeping and she thought that the library would be a quiet place to catch her breath. She wondered how Sage did it, being with this boy all the time.
No wonder they had wanted this break so badly. He was a handful.
As she wandered into the library, she saw Lancelot pouring over some maps.
"What are you doing in here?" She asked him quietly as not to wake Briac.
Lancelot looked up and smiled. She looked happier than she had in weeks. Tired, but happier.
"Seeing if I can find a suitable route for our trip. This is the quietest place right now." He placed his fingers on the baby's cheek, feeling the softness. "At least it was." He gently tapped his finger on the end of Briac's nose.
Teagan noticed Arthur had also entered the library after she did. She handed a sleeping Briac to Lancelot.
"Hey! What are you doing?" He yelped as he tried to give the boy back.
"Hold him a minute, will you?" She ignored his protests. She stood up, quickly rushing to Arthur.
"Arthur!" Teagan called quietly. Trying not to wake Briac, but still trying to get Arthur's attention.
"Teagan. It's good to see you about."
Teagan nodded curtly. Then getting right to her point. "Arthur. Listen to me. Tristan did not hurt Arianna." She had been trying to find him all day. But Briac had kept her otherwise occupied.
He snorted. He disagreed. "You bear marks similar to hers." He shook his head. "It's to much of a coincidence."
Teagan put her hands on her hips, causing Arthur to smirk. "I'm telling you Arthur. He didn't do it."
Arthur hedged. "Well, we'll see what he has to say when he returns."
Lancelot watched as his commander and good friend looked as though they were in the midst of an argument.
Teagan had her arms flying about and Arthur stood with his hands behind his back. Regarding her carefully. She would talk, he would answer. And it looked as if both were not hearing what they wanted to.
"So what was that all about?" He asked as Teagan made her way back to him.
Teagan took Briac, settling the sleeping boy back into her lap.
"Nothing." She muttered.
Lancelot moved forward, closer to her, his face nearly into hers. She didn't look at him. Instead, she focused on Briac.
"Don't nothing me."
Teagan sighed, running her palm over the baby's hair.
"I keep trying to tell Arthur that Tristan didn't hurt Arianna."
"How do you know he didn't? Did he tell you?"
"Yes. He did." There was conviction in her voice. She really believed him.
"And you believe him?" Lancelot wanted to. He really did. He remembered what had happened last time Tristan's emotions had erupted.
"Absolutely." Without question.
0o0o0o
Again Galahad opened the door to Teagan's room slowly, as not to disturb her.
They had returned later than he had expected. Both he and Sage were tired from the day. Happy. But tired. It was something that they both needed. To be alone, without Briac.
He would have to remember to thank Teagan for her kindness in letting them have the day together.
The light of the lantern shown on her bed. It's soft light sending shadows on the wall around her.
Galahad watched Teagan as she slept, her breathing even and soft. Her hair loose and fanned around her head with bits of her tattoo showing. The marks he had seen earlier, already starting to fade.
She had Briac tucked close to her body, her arm around him. It looked so natural to him. To see Teagan holding a baby.
Never in his life had he thought to have a child of his own. His life was filled with so much death. It had come as quite a shock to find out he had a son.
Now, he couldn't imagine his life without Briac. His son meant more to him than his life. The little boy was such a joy.
Now, watching as Teagan held his son, he wished her the same happiness. He imagined that a little one would not lack for love with her as a mother.
Galahad quietly and gently unwrapped Teagan's arm from around Briac, trying not to disturb her sleep.
Teagan opened her eyes as the movement of her arm, thinking that Briac needed something. As she looked up, she saw the smiling face of Galahad.
Giving him a sleepy nod, she fell back asleep.
0o0o0o
Teagan was sitting in the kitchens, munching on some bread and cheese, when Jols entered.
Looking around, he quickly spotted whom he was looking for. She was having an animated conversation with Vanora. Several of Van's children were running about, chasing the puppy Bors had gotten for the family.
Moving to Teagan he gently touched her on the arm, gaining her attention.
Teagan smiled at the man. He had always been so kind and nice to her.
"What can I do for you today?"
Jols replied by smiling, taking her hand in his, tugging her to her feet.
"Where are we going?" Teagan asked, just a little concerned. But she trusted this kind man. And went willingly.
He smiled at her. "It's okay. You'll see."
The older woman was quiet as she watched Teagan leave with Jols.
Jols quietly let Teagan through the fort to the outer wall.
Both were silent as he led her up the steps to the battlement's highest wall. A place Teagan had visited often. So often, she knew which of the steps to avoid as it had started crumbling.
She gave a tug on the hand that was still holding hers. "Why did you bring me here?" She whispered as she looked about her.
It was still early. Still quiet throughout the fort and it's surroundings.
The fog was heavy and the air still smelled of dew. The sun was just starting to rise in the east.
"Why am I here?" She repeated to the squire.
Jols only smiled, pointing to the sunrise.
As Teagan saw what he was pointing at, her eyes grew bigger. Her heart catching.
How did Jols know?
Turning, she noticed that he was almost to the bottom of the stairs.
"Thank you." She whispered to his retreating back as she again turned to the approaching figure of Tristan.
0o0o0o
Tristan had come back to the fort two days earlier than expected, early in the morning. After reporting to Arthur, he made his way to the practice field.
He hadn't resolved anything that he tried. Teagan was never far from his mind. As he had entered the fort, he was surprised to see her standing on the battlement.
The others were already there, getting ready for the mission they would leave on. Now, in two days' time.
Tristan eyed Lancelot warily as he passed the knight. "Did you enjoy what you spied?" It was more a sneer than a question. He wasn't going to let the dark knight take what belonged to him. And Teagan belonged to him. She always had. He just needed to convince her of that.
Lancelot whirled to face him. "You forced yourself on her!"
Lancelot's first reaction was to attack the knight. But, he didn't. Tristan was so much more skilled at combat that Lancelot knew he didn't stand a chance.
And right now, no one knew where the scout's mind was. No use tipping him over the edge further.
He was sure that he had, with the way that the door had been barricaded, but he couldn't be sure. And the marks on her body. The way he had been treating Teagan lately, he, along with the other knights, had thought that their relationship was irreparable. That Tristan had finally snapped.
But she had done nothing but defend him. Going so far as to say that he was innocent of the treatment of Arianna.
He had admitted long ago that he had feelings for Teagan, but that they were friendship feelings. He loved her as he loved his sister. And he would protect her with his life.
Tristan shrugged as he drew his sword. "Didn't seem that way to me." He said calmly. If only he had entered the room earlier.
Looking around, he noticed a tall stranger standing with Arthur. "Who is that?" He pointed to the man with his sword.
"I don't know. But I'm sure we'll find out."
A/N: I had originally thought to put up the chapter where Teagan meets the stranger. Then thought better of it. Cause I'm evil. No, not really, I just wanted to use this one to set up the next. Just a bit of calm.