Out of Darkness Comes the Light - Chapter 23
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: I leave to go to the beach for a day and when I come back I had a whole slew of reviews in my box! I'm still doing the happy dance! Thank you all so very much for reviewing. It makes all the stress worth it.
And I apologize for the delay in this chapter. I have good excuses though. 1. I have a house to clean. And laundry to do. Going to the beach on Friday and then working all weekend, I kinda put it off. 2. My daughter is starting her summer vacation. That means that she spends most of the summer either with her dad or with her grandparents at their cabin in North Carolina. (Wish I was going there. It is such a beautiful place. Maybe I'll put it into my story.) She leaves Wednesday evening. Must get her packed. 3. Am going to West Virginia with a girlfriend this weekend. Her and her BF are taking me out to get inebriated for my big 35! Uck! Getting old sucks!
And mostly, I wanted to take my time with this one. The pair still isn't quite on the same page. Tristan is still so used to being alone that he may still need a bit of prodding.
Cardeia - Thank you for the pictures! I loved them all. When I get through murdering this bunny I've got hopping around, I'll send you the rest of the pics from the Faire. Can't wait until August and October. I've already got my plans made for the two Faires then.
Woden isn't who you thought he was, was he? And yes, the do see through his rouse. Teagan because she recognizes the fool and Tristan because he is such a good reader of most people. It's his job to find trouble. He just figures these things out.
And Tristan isn't one to be 'in your face.' He is more subtle. And I think that all this still scares the pants off him. But, he is going to be getting a little help from all his friends.
Dena - Thank you for listening to me day after day of my ranting. And my obsessing while you drank your 'medicine.' (grin) Now you can see why I've obsessed all these months. Put away your hankies and pull up a chair with Jed. I'm so glad I got you hooked. First it was Stargate, now this. You will become me yet! Happy reading and I'll see you at work tomorrow.
June Birdie - Thank you sovery much! Now I'm impatiently waiting for you to update. Both of them!
Tracey137 - Thank you! And they just might. I have some fun in mind.
MistakenLove - Thank you!
KnightMaiden - I'm glad you like it.Now, let's just hope I can keep you and everybody still interested.
Sorceress Misha - Yup, think are moving along. Albeit a tad bit slowly.
dellis - Taking her with them seems to be the most popular route. We'll see.
Arthur and Guinevere lay spent, both trying to catch their breath.
She reached over, brushing a trickle of sweat off Arthur's brow. It was such a wonderful way to wake up.
But Arthur's mind seemed to be elsewhere at the moment. Guinevere noticed that he seemed to be thinking of other things. She had a feeling she knew.
"Are you still thinking of those two?" She asked him as she ran her fingertip over his bottom lip.
Arthur nipped her finger, taking the tip of it in and running his tongue under the small pad. The action causing her to sigh.
He pulled her hand to his chest, drawing her closer to him. A hand ran lazily down her spine to rest in the small of her back, playing with the tiny scar she had slightly above her right cheek.
"Out of all the men, I thought Tristan would be the last to fall."
"She's good for him."
For the most part, Arthur agreed. But those two were not exactly similar in personality.
"Sometimes, I'm not so sure."
Guinevere propped herself onto her elbow. "What makes you say that?"
"Think on it. She's just about his opposite. She likes the bustle of the fort and he'd prefer to be outside, running in the wild. She can be outspoken and frank. He's quiet and well..."
"Opposites attract. Look at us. Did you ever think that you would love and marry a woad? Especially the daughter of Merlin?"
Arthur chuckled over that. No, he never thought that. He had spent so many of his years fighting her people. Now, he was desperately in love with one.
"They aren't going to have it easy you know."
Guinevere nodded her head, the movement causing her hair to fall across Arthur's chest.
"Especially after someone has come forward to claim her."
"It's odd that. Something is not right." Arthur said as he twirled a strand of her hair that had fallen onto his chest. He loved the feel of her hair, it was as soft as silk, the color of rich mahogany.
"I wonder who she'll choose." Guinevere mused. It was so obvious anyway.
Arthur chuckled, telling Guinevere what had happened in the hall. What Teagan had said. What Tristan had said after.
"I'm not sure of Woden's intentions, but I'm pretty sure that Teagan won't go with him. I'm not comfortable leaving her here, not when we are going to be gone for so long."
Arthur's wife lay thinking, her fingers tracing light patterns along his breastbone. It had taken her the better part of a week of nagging for Arthur to allow her to come along on this run.
It was one that the fort had done yearly. Rarely did things go badly on this trip.
Guinevere had begun to feel trapped in, longing for the ride, the open air. Maybe it would be good for Teagan.
"Maybe we should bring her along. It'll give me someone to talk to. We'll bring Cassandra too. She said something about finding fabrics for some dresses she wants to make."
Arthur's face broke into a grin. "Oh Lancelot will love that, I'm sure."
Guinevere answered with one of her own. "He does like her doesn't he?"
"More than he realizes."
0o0o0o
Insistent knocking brought Cassandra to the door. It sounded like there were hundreds of people trying to break into her room.
"What could possibly be so important?" She was fuming at being woken so early in the morning.
As she opened the door, Galahad nearly fell into the room. Gawain and Lancelot pushed their way in. All looking around as if they were trying to find something.
"What do you want?" She was trying to scowl at the men. But she almost laughed. Their anxious looks were worth the wake up call.
She already knew what they wanted. They were looking for Teagan. But she had left shortly after Tristan had left.
"Where's Teagan?" Lancelot asked as he did a complete turn, looking about the room. It would have been nothing, except that Lancelot was still slightly hung over and turning around in one spot was causing him to almost stumble.
Cassandra couldn't help but giggle.
"She's not here."
"I see that."
"Well?" The look on her face said innocence.
Lancelot threw up his arms in frustration. This woman was adorable, he'd give her that, but she could be so damned infuriating.
And right now, she was toying with them.
He stopped in his turning. "We want to know what happened." He glared at the tiny woman, who was looking like she was thoroughly enjoying herself.
"Yes, we do." Galahad said from his spot by the door.
Cassandra snorted at the knights. "I was with you last night. I know as much as you do."
Gawain though, had sat on Teagan's bed. He was now looking around and something on the floor caught his eye.
"Cass?" She turned to look at the blonde knight sitting on the bed. She noticed he had a smirk on his face.
"Yes?" She said as sweetly as she could.
Gawain held up a very small throwing knife. There was a brief glint as the light moved over the sharp blade.
"What time did Tristan leave?"
All eyes turned to her, waiting for her answer. She shrugged her shoulders. Smiling. Her eyes twinkling because she actually knew something they didn't.
Lancelot noticed her smug look and moved to mere steps of her. He bent low to look her in the face.
"You know, don't you?" His voice low.
Cassandra only smiled some more, her hand gently patting Lancelot's cheek.
He grabbed her wrist, resisting the urge to kiss her palm. "Tell me."
0o0o0o
Dagonet stuck his head in the door of Teagan and Cassandra's room. He had been sent by Arthur to have everyone meet in the hall for a meeting. They were due to leave for the supply run by mid-day, but in light of recent events, he had thought it better if they left tomorrow.
Now, he was looking for the rest of the knights. He went to the first place he thought of.
It was as if instinct had brought him to this door.
The sight that met him was interesting.
Gawain was sitting on a bed, twirling a small throwing dagger. One he recognized as Tristan's.
Lancelot was standing in the middle of the small room, his face murderous, his hand locked onto that of Cassandra. Who looked like she was enjoying herself way to much.
Then there was Galahad, walking the room, snooping into everything that the women had.
"How did I guess you would all be in here?" It wasn't the two that he had originally thought he'd find, but the rest were here.
Cass was the first to speak up. "They want to know where Teagan and Tristan are. They are being nosy."
Lancelot released her hand. He turned to his friend. "Yes, we are."
Dagonet just shook his head. "Arthur wants us to meet. Now. Cass, you also."
Everyone got up from their positions, Cassandra pulling on a loose dress to cover her nightclothes.
Galahad put down a piece of leather cord he had picked up.
"I have a question."
Gawain rolled his eyes at his friend. "You always have questions. What now?"
Galahad gave Gawain a dirty look. "We all think they are together. We know they want to be together. So has anyone actually seen those two together?"
Everyone looked at one another. No, they hadn't.
0o0o0o
Bors heard the commotion up above his rooms. Leaning out, he looked up. Sure enough, it was coming from Teagan and Cassandra's rooms.
Bounding up the stairs two at a time, he nearly ran into Dagonet as he rushed into the room.
"Sorry Dag. What's all the fuss?"
Dagonet shook his head in amusement.
"Seems everyone is all atwitter because of last night."
"What ya think Tris will do to that thing?"
Lancelot moved away from Cassandra. "I don't know. But we want to find them." He waggled his eyes. "Just in case he needs some help."
The big man brought his hand up, absently scratching his chest.
"I dunno, but I saw Red headed out towards the stable not that long ago."
Five large knights and one small blonde woman all rushed to where Bors last saw Teagan go.
Lancelot and Galahad nearly tripping down the stairs in their hurry to find her.
0o0o0o
Teagan heard the screech of Tristan's hawk as she entered the stables. Looking around, she didn't see him, but knew he was around. He had left before she had woken up this morning. She came to the stables in hopes of finding him. They were due to leave on their supply run in a few hours. She needed to talk to him.
As she approached her horse, she saw the tall figure of Woden. Teagan was glad that Tristan was nearby. She didn't trust Woden one bit. But his man wasn't Woden. He was someone more sinister. Setting her shoulders, she moved to Aodh's stall.
"Excuse me Justus. I need to see to my horse."
"How did you know it was me?"
Teagan faced the tall man, having to tilt her head up to see him. "I remember you. The hair does nothing for you." She took an involuntary step away from him.
He followed her step. "Are you not going to run this time?"
She shook her head. "I'm tired of running away from you two. How far away is he?" She let out a big sigh.
"Not far. He's due to come here in six months. That's if I return to him empty handed."
Teagan relaxed, just a bit. Six months was a long time. Anything could happen in that time. And Justus was going back empty handed.
But then, once winter got here, that foul man could be stuck here for a long time.
Teagan turned, about to leave the stables when Justus' next words stopped her.
"I'm sure Galen would like to know your activities here. Being the whore that you are."
Teagan whipped around to face Justus.
"You leave him out of this." Then she thought. "Is he still living?"
Justus nodded his big head. "For now. Victor tries to make his life as hard as possible. But he just won't die. It was such fun to get the information about Woden from him."
Teagan shook her head, sadly. The thought of Galen being tortured had her stomach rolling. "You are a sick man. You and Victor both."
Justus took a step toward Teagan. "Do you know how easy it would be for me to just take you now?"
Teagan just laughed. 'This man has got to be smoking something.' She had so many people looking out for her, she couldn't fart without someone knowing.
Justus was getting angry at her haughty laughter. He let it show. "You do not have your protectors with you now.'
Teagan let out a very unladylike snort. "What makes you say that?" She said as innocently as she could. She knew who was nearby, but was grateful that he had himself hidden. She just hoped that the knight showed some restraint. He hadn't been able to as of late.
Justus made a show of looking around the stables. "I do not see any of them. They were so drunk last evening that they are probably still abed." He moved towards her, slowly.
She looked levelly at the man in front of her. He was taller, bigger and stronger. She was not so big and weaker. She had never been that strong to begin with. And she carried no weapons.
"Don't try anything stupid, Justus." She tried to reason with him.
"Who says it's stupid? Victor wants you and I aim to bring you back." He took a step toward her.
Teagan took another step back. Justus noticed that she glanced behind her to gauge how much room she had left.
"Go on. Try and get away from me. Your knights are not here to save you." Justus sneered at her. His small black eyes getting smaller.
She couldn't help herself, she laughed. "You really believe that, don't you?" The tall man nodded. "You really think they would leave me alone knowing that my supposed betrothed was back to claim me?" She knew for a fact that they were just about drooling, trying to get information from her.
Justus shrugged his big shoulders, giving her a smug look. "I do."
Teagan caught a movement behind Justus. She was able to smile calmly at the man.
Justus had had enough of Teagan's self-satisfied air. His anger flared. Stepping toward Teagan, he brought his hand up to slap her. 'That bitch.' How dare she be so arrogant? So smug? Acting like she was better than he?
As Teagan's smile grew, Justus' anger grew. He brought his arm around and down.
It was roughly caught.
Tristan caught Justus' arm, jerking him down into the straw. Within seconds, Tristan had his sword at the neck of Justus.
"She is never alone." He growled to the man in the straw.
Justus swallowed, hiding his fear. Of all the knights, this one was the one to be afraid of. This one was a sadistic killer. And of all the knights, this was the one who had Teagan. Victor was going to have a field day with this information.
"Ah, I forgot. The knight who owns the fair lady." He said as calmly as he could.
Loud voices and commotion brought Teagan's eyes to the entrance to the stables. There stood Lancelot, Gawain, Galahad, Cassandra all trying to crowd into the stables at once.
Amusement filled her eyes as she watched the group bicker over who was going to enter first.
"Iffin you don move now, I'll push you out of my way." Bors could be heard over them all.
Tristan heard the noise, but never took his eyes off Justus.
He slowly pulled his sword away. He had no desire for bloodshed right now. "Teagan doesn't belong to me. She is her own woman." He stepped away from Justus, giving the man enough room to get up.
The others finally made it into the stables.
"Don't stop on our account." Lancelot encouraged Tristan as he watched the knight lower his blade.
Bors stepped up to the tall Roman, sizing him up. "So, you're Woden. Eh?" His hand was moving to the dagger he had sticking out of his belt.
Justus felt like an animal caught in a trap. It was going to be hard to get the woman alone. Harder than he thought it would. These knights were like flies. They seemed to be everywhere.
Gawain and Galahad were following Bors' lead, both going for their blades.
Teagan saw what they were doing. She stepped forward.
"Stop. There is no need for violence. Yet."
Lancelot adopted his lost puppy look. "But we just want to play with him. Get to know the chump." He moved forward, Gawain and Galahad following.
Dagonet spoke up. He didn't want this to get out of hand. "Arthur wants us to meet in the hall. Now."
Lancelot poked Justus in the chest. He gave the man a truly wicked grin. "We'll be seeing you again."
It was all Justus could do to not lose his faculties as he watched all the knights file out of the stable. Alone, each was a formidable apponant. Together, they were just plain frightening.
Yes, it was going to be harder than he thought to get Teagan away from them.
0o0o0o
Arthur watched in mild amusement as everyone filed into the hall, each taking their respective seats.
Lancelot was first, his hand on Cassandra's back, guiding her to an empty seat beside him.
Arthur half expected Lancelot to hold the chair out for her. When he didn't , Arthur shook his head. It would only be a matter of time before he turned the charm on full.
Guinevere poked him in the arm. A smile gracing her features. "I told you." She mouthed to him.
Bors was next, followed by Dagonet. Bors looked disappointed and Dag looked like he had just scolded an errant child.
Something must have happened while Dagonet was gathering everybody.
Gawain and Galahad entered, engaged in another argument. Those two were always bickering. It was a wonder they were such good friends at times. They may as well have been brothers, for that is what they acted like.
Tristan and Teagan were the last to enter. Though they weren't touching, they walked side by side. Equals.
Tristan took his seat with Teagan curling her legs into the one next to him. They didn't look fully comfortable with one another, but things were less strained.
Arthur stood, looking at everyone individually. It crossed his mind how each and everyone present had grown in the past few months.
"Now that we're all here, I think we need to discuss this supply run."
A/N: Well? I hope you all liked it and I hope that it fits with the rest.