a/n: This is about half the length of my normal chapters, and I apologize for that and the delay. I'm really struggling with this chapter and the next, maybe because I know things are coming to a close. But please stay with me and send me your feedback—they help me a lot! Thanks!

Dining and Dancing

The next village was easy to find as they got closer. Firelight around the village made the area glow against the sky, and the noise was unmistakable.

The people were celebrating. Jaelynn glanced over at Tristan, who was frowning. The area smelled of good, warm food, and Jaelynn licked her lips. People walked about with large trays and baskets of food. She didn't know the reason for this celebration, but she hoped the villagers would be hospitable enough to include her and Tristan.

Amazingly, they did. Three villagers--an older man and woman, and a positively graying, shriveled old woman--came to them as soon as Jaelynn and Tristan were seen.

"Need a place to stay for the night?" the gray woman asked. Her voice shook, but her eyes still sparkled. Jaelynn glanced at Tristan before answering.

"My name is Jaelynn," she said. "This is Tristan, a knight from King Arthur's court. Hilden, our healer, sent me to you." The man's eyes lit up.

"Wonderful!" he exclaimed. "We've been expecting Hilden for months. I'm glad he at least sent you here." Jaelynn wasn't sure if that was really a good thing, but the man's companion—his wife?—swatted him.

"We're glad you're here," she said, correcting any backhanded welcome. "Come eat. There's quite a feast and celebration tonight." She called out to a young boy to look after her horse and Tristan's.

"You both must be hungry," she said. She gently took Jaelynn by the arm, and Tristan by his. Tristan looked slightly alarmed, and Jaelynn grinned. He wasn't used to being welcomed.

"What is everyone celebrating?" Jaelynn asked. Several villagers gathered around two tables of food and a fire pit. She saw people dancing as well.

The old, gray woman answered. "My granddaughter has taken a husband." She glanced at Tristan—winked at him—and led the way.

They left their things in yet another home, and then joined the feast. Jaelynn's stomach grumbled eagerly, and there was a quickness to Tristan's step that made her think she wasn't the only excited about a fresh, hot meal.

Cheers sounded as they walked in. Jaelynn blinked, stunned—were they greeting her? The villagers waved at her and Tristan, or maybe to their escort. But as soon as they neared the group, people started to bring trays of food around, up to her and to Tristan. Amazingly, no one seemed shy or frightened of Tristan. Jaelynn smiled, and took a piece of meat and a small loaf of bread in her hands.

They stood to the side of the festivities, watching and eating. Tristan bit into an apple. Jaelynn eyed it. It looked refreshing. She hadn't had much fruit on their trip. Tristan reached into his coat, and pulled out another apple. He nodded at her and handed her the fruit.

She hesitated. It was nice of him—which threw her off. She took it though, and started munching away.

The quiet between them stayed over the last few days, but Jaelynn was finding it more and more comfortable. As long as she didn't think about their proximity under the waterfall, or wonder what he was thinking all the time, she was fine. As if to help her now, Jaelynn cleared her mind and focused on the villagers.

Men and women danced as part of the celebration. One woman kept glancing at Tristan. Jaelynn found it annoying, but Tristan didn't seem to notice. Since when is he not observant? The woman had long, blonde hair. It was curly too, so curly in fact that it looked messy to Jaelynn. Still, the woman came up to Tristan. Jaelynn stopped breathing.

"Would you like to join me?" She gestured to the open area where the others danced. Jaelynn was glad for that—otherwise, she might have been soliciting something other than dance.

Tristan shook his head. It surprised Jaelynn, and she raised an eyebrow at him when he faced her, but she didn't comment on it.

To shock her further, Jaelynn felt a tap on her shoulder. She turned and saw a tall, handsome man, probably Galahad's age although his appearance reminded her of Arthur. He bowed courteously, took her by the hand, and Jaelynn suddenly found herself amidst the dancing villagers.

At first, she felt horribly awkward. Her feet would not cooperate, and she knew her face was as red as the fire. But the man who danced with her did not seem to mind. He smiled encouragingly and led her through the simply tune a group of villagers played.

She returned back to the corner she and Tristan had selected before, out of breath but pleasantly invigorated. Tristan didn't look at her. He was staring out at the villagers, observing their movements.

"That was refreshing," she commented a bit lamely. Tristan grunted. His eyes were fixed on one woman who was coming his way. She had red hair and dark eyes, but Tristan shook his head as she neared. Immediately, she changed course, her face a bit downfallen—though within minutes she had another partner.

Jaelynn smiled to herself. How simply he had rejected the red-haired woman. She wondered why. The woman looked pleasant enough. Jaelynn decided to ask.

"Why do you not dance with them?" she asked. When Tristan didn't answer, she persisted. "They might see it as rude for you to ignore them."

He shrugged at that.

"I don't want to dance," he said.

"Why not?"

She saw him roll his eyes. He shifted around. "Do I look like I dance?"

"Are you saying you can't?" She hadn't ever seen him dance, but with his natural grace, especially as she'd seen in battle, she imagined it would come with ease for him. But Tristan shook his head.

"Just don't want to dance with them."

For some reason, even though she was curious to press him further, she let it go.

Four more men, some young, and some older than Tristan, came to her, and she danced among the friendly villagers. Every now and then, she glanced Tristan's way, wondering why he wouldn't loosen up. He watched her though, and she had to fight the urge to be self-conscious. No. Just relax, and have fun. And she did.

When the fourth man returned her to where she'd been with Tristan, Jaelynn found that Tristan was gone. She looked around for him, but he wasn't anywhere to be seen. Many of the villagers were leaving though. The fire was dying, and the liveliness was waning. Jaelynn fought back a yawn.

She started back to the home they were staying in. Her feet ached, yet she was lifted up by the festivities. It was a nice change from simply being quiet and polite as in the other villages, and from the long silences with Tristan.

Something snagged her sleeve. Jaelynn turned with a frown on her face. Someone had snagged her sleeve. It was one of the men she danced with. He looked far beyond stable. He swayed before her, and somehow his grip on her arm was strong.

"Yes?" she asked, though her heart started to beat more quickly. The man grinned and leaned towards her. She smelled the drink on his breath, ducked away from him, and yanked her arm free.

"What!" the man yelled. The sudden volume only made Jaelynn's heart race faster. This could turn badly. He reached for her, but Jaelynn dodged him and dashed to the side. "Come home with me." He showed a slobbering grin. Jaelynn sighed.

"No," she said, stepping away from him without turning her back on him. His features hardened, creating deep creases in his forehead.

"Why not?" Again, his voice was far louder than necessary, and he dove for her angrily. Jaelynn twisted away from him, ready to run, but he nabbed her side, catching her clothes. It was enough for him to pull her closer and grab her around the waist. Jaelynn panicked. Her mind drew a blank, wondering who would help her.

She opened her mouth to scream, until she realized she knew what to do.

She slammed her elbow in his gut, eliciting a painful groan from the man. Jaelynn wriggled from his hold, kicked the man right on the knee, and waited until he fell to his knees before hitting him right in the face.

His nose crunched from her hit—she actually felt it! Thrilled and scared at the same time, Jaelynn went to kick him in the side for good measure, but she stopped herself. The man was down, and rolling back and forth in pain. It would take him some time to regain himself.

She walked away, eerily confident and calm considering what just happened. You defended yourself.

She should have been horrified. She knew it. She should have felt frightened. But she couldn't stop the grin from spreading over her face.

She just hoped she wouldn't have to treat the man tomorrow.

-0-0-

Tristan had his dagger in hand, ready to throw at the man's head. But then he saw Jaelynn's defense.

He had left the wedding celebration and gone to their sleeping quarters, but he couldn't just stay there. All he saw in his mind was Jaelynn, dancing with man after man, and how happy she looked. Being away from it though made him realize he'd just run away.

He hated that.

So he went back. And she wasn't there anymore.

Then he found her, or rather, her and a man. At first, he aimed to kill him. But Jaelynn was already beating him away, and with good form. Gawain taught her well. Oddly, he was proud of her.

He trailed her back the rest of the way, just to make sure she got to their temporary house safely. Maybe he should have interfered or helped her with the man, but she did it fine on her own. Tristan respected that about her. He didn't want to let her know he'd seen either.

He wasn't sure about the reason for that.

-0-0-

The next day, Tristan watched over Jaelynn cautiously. He kept thinking about the night before. Where was her weapon? She was lucky to have been able to ward off the man with nothing but her feet and hands, and she might not be so lucky another time.

He wondered if he should ask her about it. She had a knife, and a sword. Why not keep a weapon on her?

Jaelynn might take offense though. Tristan grimaced; no, he wouldn't bring it up. Maybe she would tell him about the attack. He kind of hoped she would, to bridge the gap between them.

Right now, she was planting some healing herb plants in a garden for the village's use. She stood, clapping the dirt from her hands. Her hair was tied back, enough that Tristan could see the pleased smile on her face.

She came towards him, and Tristan tensed as he watched her approach.

"Tristan," she said, "can I ask a favor?"

Tristan blinked. A favor? He wondered what, and nodded. Jaelynn sighed. She'd been holding her breath. Did she think I would refuse?

"You said once that you could teach me how to handle the sword you gave me," she said. Jaelynn shifted back and forth, and her eyes couldn't quite find his. "Could you still?"

An odd sense of peace came over Tristan, and mixed with the surprise he felt. Slowly, he nodded. Jaelynn smiled.

"Thank you." She turned away, and Tristan called out:

"Why the sudden change?" She didn't want to learn from him before, and he knew why. But now? He wondered if she would confess about the attack from last night. She turned back, and her eyes caught his. Her mouth turned up in a knowing grin, and Tristan nearly smiled back.

She shrugged, and went on her way.