Out of Darkness Comes the Light - Chapter 30
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...
Cardeia - Thank you for the mead links. I had originally thought to take that bit out, but it works, even in the time of our knights. And it might be fun for Ceri to do that. It goes in line with Teagan wanting a bar. Oh - I hope I've made Tristan less 'whiny.'
The bit about the apple was there for a reason. I'm happy that you noticed.
And I've taken some of your ideas to heart. I wonder if you can pick them out. I left the premise the same, just embellished a bit, expanded if you will.
melosine - I know what you mean, I suck sometimes reviewing. I have so many that I'm reading right now that it's hard to keep track. I'm glad you liked the relaxed thing. It's about to change...
KnightMaiden - Here you go!
Lady11Occult - Yup - he is. M&M's are a wonderful thing. Especially the dark ones.
June Birdie - Her you go. I'm so happy that you like and have stuck with it!
It was a sleepy bunch that made their way to a storehouse that was near the stables. Arthur had used this building for many years so it was buzzing with the extra people needed to load and then guard the supplies that would be taken to the fort. Conversations floated in different directions, the excitment building as the day wore on.
Arthur had even arranged for some of the men and older boys to accompany them back. Several had expressed a wish to join Arthur's ranks as fighters. His acheivements were becoming the stuff of legends, so many wanted to be a part.
He had even given permission for Teagan's friend, Ceridwen, to join them. As Vanora would be unable to run the fort's tavern soon, it was falling upon Teagan to do so. She had asked Arthur to let her come. Her knowledge was extensive, Teagan had said. Apparently, Ceri had been in the tavern business for many years and had learned well.
So, by late afternoon, most of the work was done.
Arthur was settling the night's watch schedule, which didn't include any of his knights. They would guard while on the road back.
He knew this storehouse was fairly safe having used it many years for this purpose. He had never had anything go missing. Yet. The owner of the building was reliable, so Arthur trusted him.
Teagan watched absently as Gawain wandered in. The look on his face suggested that his mind was a jumble.
Arthur had given him permission to purchase some horses. He had spent the better part of this morning getting the two animals into the stables next to his own stallion and settled.
One was a breeding mare, the deepest shade of chestnut he had ever seen. The other was her foal, a colt, nearly three years old. He was a light shade of black, almost the color of dark storm clouds.
They had been a fiery pair. Full of spirit and fuss. The mare had stomped on his and Gilly's feet more than once.
Getting them to the stables had been hard in itself, but was made harder because he couldn't find Gilly. They had yet to try and settle them. Obstinate beasts they were being.
The lad had been around earlier to escort the two horses to the stables. But once arriving, he had mentioned something about relieving himself.
Gawain hadn't seen him since. It wasn't like the boy to run off and not tell anyone where he had gone.
"What's in the barrels?" He found himself next to the wagon the Teagan was standing beside.
Teagan looked at Gawain, reaching out, she gave one of his long braids a tug. He had been enjoying himself these past few days, but was looking forward to going home.
In fact, everyone was looking forward to going home.
"Mead."
"Mead?"
She gave a chuckle. "You know ale, only sweeter? We cure it in these oak barrels for a long time." She gave the thing a pat, the sound making a dull thud. "Van said she wanted to try some. Cir likes it." She pulled the rope securing the barrels tighter, her body leaning back as she did so. "Ceri came up with recipe. It's quite good."
He was a bit distracted. His eyes going everywhere. "Oh. Okay. Have you seen Gilly by any chance?"
Teagan shook her head. "No. I thought he was with you."
"He was supposed to be. Can't find him though."
Gawain pulled her into a light hug, dropping a kiss on her head. He hadn't been able to get closer to her these past days. He didn't begrudge Tristan. He just missed her casual company.
Teagan hugged him back. "If I see him, I'll send him your way."
Gawain only nodded, wandering off to find the boy.
It wasn't long after Gawain left that Ceridwen stumbled into the storeroom, her breath coming in heavy gasps. She had run to find them.
"Teagan..." She sank to her knees.
Lancelot rushed to help the woman up, holding her steady, she was shaking so badly.
"What's wrong?" He asked, concerned. She had such a frightened look on her face. She looked like she had taken a slight beating. He lip was cut and her eye looked like it was starting to bruise.
"Justus...he's got...a boy..."
"Explain. Slowly."
"That man, Justus, was trying to get me to spy on T." She looked up at Teagan, her eyes saying how sorry she was. Like she was guilty of something. Tears glittered, but did not fall.
Teagan saw the look in her friend's face. Her heart leapt into her throat. "What did you do?" She whispered.
"I did nothing. I tried to get away. But that man is so mean. He started hitting me. That boy...I don't know his name, started yelling at him."
Ceridwen took in a deep breath as everyone looked at her, wanting answers.
"That man, Justus. I heard yelling. They are not far from here. Only a street away, behind the old miller's store. That boy was swearing a blue streak at Justus."
Lancelot, Tristan and Teagan all looked at each other.
"Gilly" They all said at once.
As one, they took off in the direction that Ceri had pointed. Before falling into a heap on the ground, trying desperately to catch her breath.
Tears she had held back suddenly springing from her eyes.
She didn't understand what was going on. Teagan was in some sort of trouble with this man they called Justus. Only when she had met him, his mane was Woden. Someone who said that he was promised to Teagan.
Only Teagan was in love with the knight, Tristan.
Was there some fight for her going on?
0o0o0o
The three rounded the corner of the abandoned miller's store. The sight of Justus grasping Gilly greeting him.
Poor Gilly was giving him a tough time of it. The boy was struggling and wiggling. Even stomping on Justus' foot several times.
He was still swearing several colorful phrases.
Justus held tight to his prize. Wondering why he hadn't thought of this sooner. If he had, he would have Teagan safely tucked away in the storehouse he was calling home. He could have had some extra time entertaining Teagan until Victor was due to arrive in a few months.
Justus let out a sneer at the two knights with Teagan.
The one she was bedding was in for a wonderful surprise when Victor would show up at 'King' Arthur's fort with Teagan in tow.
As his wife.
"Let him go Justus."
Justus pushed the tip of his blade in just a tiny bit further. The blood started to run on Gilly's neck.
"One more step from either one of them and the boy is dead." The man's voice was no more than an evil sneer.
Teagan's mind started thinking. It going to when Arthur had found out that Justus was not who he said he was.
Arthur was right, she had kept potentially deadly information from him. Justus was capable of hurting Arthur or his people.
If she didn't go with him now, he would kill Gilly. And how could she face Bors, knowing that she was the cause of his son's death.
Or he would hurt somebody else.
If she went with him, the only one being hurt would be her.
Her mind was whirling, her stomach rolling. Teagan swallowed hard, forcing down the rising nausea.
Looking into the frightened face of Bor's son, Teagan slowly made her way toward Justus. She looked at the man as bravely as she could, weighing her options.
Her head made the barest of nods, her throat constricting with the need to vomit.
Teagan started moving forward, her movement stopped by Tristan grabbing her hand. He held it so tight that it started to hurt. But she didn't say anything, she didn't want him to let go.
But, if he didn't let go, Gilly was going to die.
"Please, Tristan. Let me go. I need to do this."
Tristan dropped her hand. His mind starting to go blank. He wanted to stop her, make her stay. But he couldn't. If she didn't go, Gilly was going to get hurt. Or even get killed.
Bors wouldn't survive the death of his son. Not this way. Not murder.
"Teagan." Lancelot tried.
Teagan was more than halfway to Justus when Lancelot called out. She turned to face her friend. His face was dark, almost fearful. But she could see the rage starting in his eyes.
She gave him a sad smile, then looked at Tristan.
He was gone. His face held no emotion at all. Even his eyes were dark. His hand fingering the hilt of his sword.
Teagan prayed that he wouldn't do anything foolish.
She straightened her shoulders, continuing her walk to the Roman. She was convinced that she was doing the right thing.
When she reached him, Justus pushed the boy hard, hard enough that he fell to his knees. Immediately grabbing Teagan, pushing the dagger into her chest.
Gilly got up and ran, ran past Tristan and Lancelot. He had to find Arthur. Tell him what was going on.
"Tell him." He pushed the blade further into her chest, the tip piercing the soft skin. "Tell him to leave."
Teagan swallowed. She looked at the man whom she loved with her very soul.
"Teagan..." He tried to move forward but Lancelot held him back.
"Tristan, I don't..." She looked away from him. "Go."
Both Tristan and Lancelot could only watch as Justus led Teagan out of the alley, to disappear around a corner.
Tristan wanted nothing more than to follow him, get his woman back and gut the bastard. He started moving out of the alleyway, in the same direction as Justus had taken Teagan, his mind going over the ways he would disembowel the man.
Lancelot seemed to read his mind. "No, Tristan. Don't. He even gets wind of you following, he'll kill her."
These words stopped Tristan. He wouldn't risk that.
0o0o0o
Lancelot nearly had to shove Tristan into the Blue Fish to await Arthur and the rest. They had planned on meeting here for the evening meal anyway, so Arthur had ensured that there would be no extra patrons inside at this time.
Arthur had wanted to discuss the following day in relative privacy. Now it was just a convenience that the tavern's normal patrons would not start arriving until later.
Tristan took a seat at one of the bar's long tables, his mind clearly going in different directions at once. He gave the fish a glare, pulled out his throwing knives and started tossing them up.
Lancelot looked at his friend, feeling immense compassion for the man. It had taken Tristan an incredible amount of strength to give in to his feelings in regard to Teagan.
And now, things were being taken out from under him. Again.
"Tristan, taking your frustration out on that helpless fish is not going to solve your problems."
Tristan grunted at Lancelot, throwing the tiny blade at the fish. He frowned. He'd have to replace them. Again.
Lancelot wandered over to Tristan laying a hand on his shoulder, which Tristan threw off, coming to his feet.
Lancelot dropped his arm. He heaved a sigh. "She thinks she's doing the right thing. That she's saving the rest of us."
Tristan moved to Lancelot, coming to a mere hair's breadth away. He was so fast that Lancelot was almost surprised.
"I. Don't. Need. Saving." His voice as hard as his eyes.
Lancelot stood his ground, his eyes as hard as Tristan's. "No. But she does. Mybe she's bought us some time."
Arthur ran in, followed by Gawain, Guinevere, Cassandra and Ceridwen. All seemed out of breath.
Tristan, seeing Ceri, rushed her, his large hand catching her in the throat.
"You! You gave her to him!" His voice ground out. His face hard with rage.
"Tristan!" Arthur yelled at the scout. He didn't want this.
Tristan growled, letting Ceri go, then retreating to the bar.
Ceri was rooted to the spot, afraid to move. Guinevere and Cass came to her, soothing her.
Arthur took a last glance at his scout, then his eyes searched out Lancelot. Finding him, he motioned him over.
"What in the name of all that's holy is going on? Gilly came running, saying something about Justus." His voice was a loud whisper. Anyone could hear him if they tried hard enough.
But nobody but those involved were going to hear him. The bar was blessedly empty at this time.
"It's a bloody mess. That's what it is." Gilly said out of nowhere. Sitting in the spot that Tristan had earlier vacated.
Lancelot smirked. He fell onto the nearest bench, next to Gilly, his eyes going to the fish. Now with many more knife blades than before.
He gave Gilly a pat on the back. "You're more like your father than you want to admit." He said as he handed the boy a cup of wine.
Lancelot heaved a heavy sigh, his hand rubbing the back of his neck. "Justus took Gilly hostage. Threatened to kill him if Teagan didn't come quietly."
"I take it she did." Arthur interrupted, his eyes roving over Gilly, making sure the lad was unharmed.
Lancelot nodded. He flicked a glance to where Tristan was standing, his arms on the bar, his head hung.
The man was physically shaking.
Lancelot could see Tristan sinking into himself. The killer starting to rise. He could almost see the blackness descending on his friend. Pulling him under.
"She traded herself for Gilly." He said finally.
"Great." Muttered Gawain. He walked to the bar, finding a seat near Tristan. But still giving the man space. Pouring a cup of wine, he passed it to his friend, then pouring himself one.
Though Tristan was becoming more drawn out of himself, more open, one had to be reminded in situations like this that he was still a very volatile man. His new found closeness to Teagan was being threatened.
Arthur gave a curt nod. "Let me think."
Starting to pace, he gave wide berth to Tristan. He wasn't sure how to judge him yet. But he wasn't about to leave Teagan with that Roman. They would think of something.
The soles of his boots making a soft thud as he walked on the hard wood floors. As he walked, he looked at everyone present.
Guinevere sat with Ceridwen, soothing her fears and keeping her company. She was now a part of this, just like the rest. Her soft whispers barely carrying to him.
Cassandra had stood by, watching. She was angry herself. It seemed that Teagan would never have things go her way. Nor Tristan for that matter.
Leaving the other two women, she sat on the bench next to Lancelot.
She felt better when he took her hand in his then placing both in his lap.
"I guess that we should keep our secret just a little bit longer." He said quietly, placing the lightest of kisses behind her ear.
Cass could only nod, the tears starting to well up in her eyes. She should not be the one happy. Her eyes found Tristan, her heart going out to him.
He sat hunched at the bar, his small eating dagger poking. Poking at what, Cassandra didn't know, it could be nothing. It could be himself.
Tristan was feeling pain in his heart, in his brain. She knew that he needed to feel the physical pain sometimes.
Gently, she rested her head on Lancelot's shoulder. It should be they that were happy, not her.
"What secret?" Gilly asked from beside him.
Lancelot gave a forced chuckle. "Nothing as important as this." He gave the boy a ruffle of his short hair.
Gilly gave a nod of his head, fulling understanding. This was a big thing going on.
He took a look around the room, thinking about the changes this group had seen these past few years.
Gilly smiled to himself. He had grown up with these men, his father being a knight.
He had been lucky that Bors hadn't shielded him from the goings on at the fort. He had included him in the mundane life of the knights as far back as Gilly could remember.
The life was not pretty, this he knew. It was full of killing and back breaking work. But he wanted to be a knight just the same. It had filled him with great pride to be on this trip, to be treated as one of them.
And he had been lucky, his father was still living. He knew so many of his friends that had their fathers, and mothers, ripped from their lives in this brutal war.
Now, Lancelot sat next to him. He was one of the greatest warriors of their time. Even he had changed, now sitting next to a pretty woman whom he was greatly in love with. Lancelot's life had seemed to settle down.
As had Gawain's. Having the time to indulge in his love of horses. Another of the great warriors.
In fact...he personally knew the most of greatest fighters. Several were in this room.
And one of the best was having his heart ripped out of his chest.
Tristan was, in Gilly's opinion, the best of the best. The arrival of Teagan to the fort had started changing him. For the better most said.
Gilly didn't know if he agreed or not. He had started to open up more, be more friendly. But now, with this little problem, he had slipped into his funk so quickly. So quickly that it was scary.
He didn't pretend to understand what went on in the scout's mind. He didn't want to know. But, whatever it was now was dark, nearly frightening to those around him.
Gilly watched as Tristan heaved himself up, his strides taking him to the entrance of the tavern. Opening the door, he stood silent, staring out into the newly darkening sky.
Outside, the noises of the city could be heard. The voices of people, the bark of dogs and even ctickets could be heard in the distance.
Arthur paced, wondering what could be done.
"Does anyone know where he would have taken her?" He asked anyone.
Murmurs of 'no' resounded.
"I think I do." It was Ceridwen that spoke up.
"What do you mean?" It only took Arthur a few strides to be next to her.
"I met him. Justus. Before you got here. Only he said his name was Woden." Her voice sounded so small, wavering as she said her words.
Snarls and colorful curses could be heard throughout the group assembled in the tavern.
A scrape of wood on wood could be heard asGawain pushed his high bar stool back. Slowly he turned to watch Ceridwen.
Arthur knelt before Ceri, his hand resting on her knee, offering support to the frightened woman.
"Continue."
"He said he was waiting for T." She stopped, giving a shaky laugh. "I mean Teagan. Something about being betrothed to her."
"Over his dead body."
Arthur looked at his scout, warning him with his eyes. "Tristan. Enough." He again faced Ceri. "Do you know where he may be keeping her?"
Ceridwen nodded. "I think so."
Arthur stood. Along with everyone else. They started to crowd against her. "Can you take me to her?"
Again the girl nodded.
"I am going with you." Tristan came forward, pulling his sword out of it's sheath, the metal on metal making an eerie sound.
Arthur put up a warning hand to his scout. "Put that thing away." He looked around. "Gawain, I need you to stay here. With the women." He had noticed the look of fright on Guinevere's face.
The giant blonde knight looked disappointed for just a minute. After taking in Tristan's murderous glances at everyone, he decided that it just may be safer to stay.
He nodded his head. Ambling to the bar to get himself another drink. It may be a long night.
He gave a nod to Tristan. "You come. And you, Lancelot." He patted the small of his back, making sure his long dagger was still where he had strapped it. It was.
A/N: I'm thinking that this may be just a tad bit long. But, it turned into this mammoth thing that I had to split it in two.