Out of Darkness Comes the Light - Chapter 21
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...
Sorceress Misha -She may. But these are her friends. I know myself, and after a while you just blow the stupid stuff off.
op - Here you go!
KnightMaiden - In the next chapter. Sort of!
Lady11Occult - I'm glad you liked it. I hope you like the next two. But later I have more interaction. It should be a fun one.
Cardeia - I picture Jols as doing his job well. In my job, I have to anticipate the needs of my residents, sometimes before they do. I see him doing that.
I talk with my hands when I'm excited. Or angry. Or happy. Oh heck, I do it all the time! (grin)
And I knew that you knew.
And your trip to the Faire brought a wonderful idea into my head. There is a Medieval Times dinner/theater near me in Baltimore. Maybe I'll go and visit...
The tavern was packed, and as a favor to Vanora, Teagan agreed to help tend the bar. It seemed to her that there were far more people here than usual. She was kept running, fetching food and drink, barely having the time to even smile at her friends. There was a table of Roman soldiers that were passing by on their way back to Rome who kept her particularly busy. Which was fine as she was enjoying the thought of keeping busy.
And this night, especially as Tristan was there. Watching her every move. Which under normal circumstances would make her nervous. But Tristan was far from normal and he didn't make her nervous.
Right now, she wasn't sure how to approach him about the other night. It needed to be done, but she didn't know how. So she decided to put it off as long as she could.
At one point Teagan had a tray full of stew and bread, making her way to the back table, by the door. The tray was heavy and the smells were making her stomach grumble.
She hadn't had much to eat this day. After seeing Tristan as he returned from the dispatch run, she hadn't really thought about eating. She had spent the day in the library, trying to figure out her life.
"Teagan!" She heard a call from her left.
The suddenness of it made her swing that way, nearly tipping the tray over. It was caught by an amused Cir.
"What?" She looked at the older man with an annoyed look.
He only laughed in his deep rumbling way. Teagan liked this man. According to Gawain, he had once been a knight who had served with Arthur's father. He was an excellent horseman. Gawain looked up to him, learning everything he could from him.
And now, Gawain was learning about horse breeding. He had purchased a mare and bred Aodh while Teagan had been gone. And now the countdown was on until the birth of the baby.
She was looking forward to seeing the foal. Maybe it would have the red coloring that it's father has. But, Gawain being the good friend that he was, had promised the foal to Lucan.
Cir pointed down, still grinning. Pointed to the ground only a pace away from Teagan's foot.
"Be careful." He rumbled as he turned back to his game of dice.
There, at her foot was a disgusting pile of vomit.
Teagan sighed. "Who was the idiot who retched and didn't clean it up?" She muttered under her breath.
But she wasn't angry. It was just another hazard of her job. She sighed again as she delivered her tray of food and pulled out rags to clean the mess, thinking that she'd have to find some boys who could start bussing the tables. And cleaning messes such as this. It wouldn't be hard, many were looking for work.
It was one of those decisions that she would be making soon enough. Vanora was expecting another child and would be unable to run this tavern. She had asked if Teagan would do it.
Of course she would. There was no question. She had always dreamed of having her own bar. And she was beginning to get enough money together so she could.
Finally, there was a lull and Teagan made her way to the table of knights. As usual, they had their hands full of beautiful girls. She noticed Cass had joined the table as well. Squeezing into her usual spot between Lancelot and Gawain, she greeted them all, pulling Gawain's mug of wine out of his hand and drinking it down. "Think you boys can hide me for a while?"
Devilish eyes waggled her. "Sure. I know a nice bed, with dark covers. That should do the trick."
Teagan gave Lancelot a poke. She gave Cass a pointed look. "I'm not the one who wishes to share your bed." The girl blushed.
"Besides, there is one here who would share her bed if she would only let him."
"Galahad!" Gawain threw his now empty cup to the younger knight.
But Galahad was indignant. "Well, it's true." He mumbled, mostly to himself.
Teagan glanced at Tristan who was actually sitting at the end of the table, in his usual spot. He hadn't been coming in if Teagan was there. He just looked at her, his brown eyes showing nothing. Teagan sighed, looking away. Maybe they would never get things sorted out.
She took another drink of wine, this time from Lancelot's cup.
He took his cup back. "Go get your own. In fact, go get us more, wench."
Getting up, she patted Lancelot on the head. As she passed Tristan, his hand snaked out and took hers. After giving it a quick squeeze, he released it, watching her walk to the bar.
Sidling up to the bar next to Dagonet, she bumped her hip on his leg, causing him to smile down at her.
"You seem to be doing well lately."
Teagan nodded, her eyes twinkling. "I'm doing better. Keeping busy helps."
Suddenly, there was a loud commotion coming from the entrance to the tavern. Everyone looked to see Arthur enter with another man. A rather tall man, Teagan noticed.
Arthur waved to her. "Teagan!" He yelled above the crowd.
She raised her full pitcher of wine in answer, making her way back to the knights' table. Filling Tristan's cup first, she filled the raised cups of the remaining knights. She giggled as Lancelot pulled her into his lap.
"Ahem." Arthur cleared his throat as he approached the table. Neither paid him any mind. "Lancelot." He called louder.
Lancelot had his face buried into her hair. Teagan smiled as she glanced up but didn't give up her seat on Lancelot's lap. Arthur smiled back, glad that she was enjoying herself. He only saw the barest of winces as she bumped her body against the knights.
But here were more pressing matters to attend to. "Teagan. There is someone here who wishes to meet you." He stepped aside and the tall man moved ahead.
He looked down at the red headed woman. This harlot couldn't be Teagan? "Are you Teagan? Of Sarmatia?" She couldn't be. The Teagan he had known all those years before, the Teagan he knew was a reserved woman. The leader of her tribe.
This woman was draped over a drunken man, and she looked to be enjoying herself.
This couldn't be the woman he had been watching for days. But, he had been so sure. And she bore the tattoo.
Teagan nodded, getting up. "Aye. To both. Who are you?" She tried to place him, but couldn't. She felt as though he were familiar. But, she also felt as though she had never met him before in her life. He was tall, taller than even Gawain. And thin. Where the knights were muscled and bulky, this man was not. He had pale hair, almost white, though not grey. And his eyes. His eyes were tiny and dark, almost black.
"I am Woden. You are my betrothed."
Teagan paled. Her breath caught.
Benches slid in unison as the knights stood and came to stand behind Teagan. Tristan, right at her side. Teagan remained silent.
"And who says?" Tristan's voice held unsaid warning. He did not want this man near her.
Woden regarded the knights, the dark one who spoke in particular. These were Arthur's famous knights? Well, they would not stop him from his path.
Arthur stepped in before Teagan could answer. "We should take this to the hall. It is quieter there." All the knights made a move to follow but Arthur put up a restraining hand. "No. Stay here. It is not your affair."
Teagan was pale. "He's right." She was beginning to recognize Woden. But it had been so long ago, she couldn't be sure. It was the hair. The hair was different somehow.
"Teagan, let one of us accompany you." Most the knights present wanted to go, but Lancelot was quicker to speak.
Teagan shook her head, smiling at her friend. "I'm a big girl. And Arthur will be there."
But Arthur agreed with Lancelot. If he didn't allow at least one knight, they would no doubt cause some kind of harm or destruction, trying to find out information. They had become that possessive of her. That and they were dust damned nosey.
And she may need the moral support of her friends. No, he had a better idea.
"It may be wise to let one come." They all volunteered, save one. "Tristan. Come. This involves you more than the others." He had been the silent one.
Woden and Arthur left the table to walk out of the tavern followed by Tristan and Teagan, leaving behind a group of very grumpy knights.
"Damn. And we won't even find out what happened." Grumped Lancelot.
Gawain agreed. "Tristan won't tell us a thing."
"Never saw this one coming. I can't believe she is engaged to another." Lancelot snorted. "Bet Tris is bloody pissed."
"Wouldn't you be?" Galahad piped in. Then he had a thought. "Maybe if we sent Jols in?"
The other two agreed. "Absolutely. He'll spy for us. Go get him Galahad."
Galahad glared at Gawain. "Why don't you go?"
Lancelot shoved him towards the bar, where Jols was last seen. "Because it was your bloody idea."
A/N: I know it's a short one. But, it's late and we just got back from a carnival. I won three fish. Yipee! Should I leave it here? Should I let you lot sweat it out for a few days?