Imortalwizardpirateelf-fan– You will see what all Guinevere does know and Doesn't know in coming chapters. Along with the Reactions of the knights and especially Lancelot And Tristan.
Winged Seraph–So glad you like this story. Hope you like your update as well.
Ailis-70–I'll flesh out Tristan's and Delaney's relationship more as the story Goes on. I must even keep secrets from my beta (mwha ha ha ha)and Ahh the bath tub... I don't think I shall take a bath without Thinking of that scene again...
Pirate–Delaney hasn't quite decided what she thinks of Merlin. I mean if what He says is true then how does he know that he didn't totally foul up Everything?
Tristanlover–So good to see you coming back for more. Hope you enjoy this
Update as well!
Sophie–Welcome to my story! Always glad to see fresh faces as well as old Friends! I like Delaney because she is flawed and I hope very human.
Vampiress66613–-Thank you so much for enjoying this story. I hope I continue To entice you to read!
Brooke1sg–- I hope I can continue to keep you hooked! Enjoy the update!
And if there are any reviewers I am missing I'm sorry. I appreciate you all taking the time and reading this!
Disclaimer– Own? I can dream right? No infringement. Promise to put them back in as good of shape as I found them. Delaney, is mine all mine and nothing but mine!
Delaney was finally able to stand wearing lose clothing. Vanora had made some Roman style dresses for her to wear. Although they were nice, she felt naked under them. She smirked, she was naked underneath them. Any stretching movement and she had to learn how to breath.
Merlin had fashioned a walking stick for her. She lovingly traced a hand upon it. There was a hawk at the top of the stick, it's wings wrapped to the back of the stick. Further down were the profiles of the knights. Tristan's braid fell into Gawain's lion's main. Then ends of the lion's mane twined into Galahad's short wavy hair which barely brushed the scarred head of Dagonet. The man had even managed to capture the giant's gentle yet serious stare. Dag blended into Bors, who's head was resting upon Vanora's and they ended into Lancelot's profile, with the one unruly curl that twisted upon his forehead. He was looking at Arthur who blended into a Dragon crest and beneath the crest was Guinevere, a full on portrait. Her wavy hair outlining her face, her eyes looking up; right at Delaney. How the man had carved such detail into a stick that was only 3 inches around, she didn't know.
She heard a knock on the door and walked stiffly to it. She opened it to find Guinevere looking at her, smiling.
"I see you are finally up and around."
"They say time heals all wounds." She stepped out of the way to let her in.
"Let's go to the Tavern and keep Vanora company today; get you out of your room." Guinevere studied the woman a moment, "That is, if it's okay with you."
"Frankly, I'm tired of seeing these same stone walls."
"Okay then." Guinevere led Delaney out into the fresh air.
&&&&&
They were all seated at a wooden table. Vanora had brought them wine and bread; her brood following behind. Leaving again, she returned with a tray of fruit and cheeses and had gotten the children situated at the next table with their own foods.
Vanora was eying Delaney silently. Unable to hide the questions she had mulling inside her head.
Delaney caught her look and sighed, "Out with it Van before you hurt yourself."
Vanora reached across the table and clasped her hand. "I don't mean to pry, lass, but I've been wondering, and since you're finally well enough to actually talk and not caught up in fever..." Her voice trailed off, unable to get it out.
"Van, just cut to the chase, please." Delaney said with a tired smile.
"I am prattling on, aren't I? Anyway, how did you get that mark in your back?"
"My ex husband took a shard of glass and decided to carve his initial into me to show who I belonged too. He wasn't a very trusting sort. He thought I was out with other men when he was at work."
"He branded you?" She was appalled.
"No better than a Roman." Guinevere spat.
"Worse, I'm afraid." Delaney finished her meal in silence.
&&&&&
"You know, Lancelot would never treat you that way. He loves to have all the women falling all over him, but he wouldn't do that." Guinevere said out of the blue when most of the food had vanished.
"Yes I know about him and his wiley ways." Delaney said with a fond smirk. She had found herself missing Lancelot more than she cared to admit to herself.
Vanora decided to put her two cents in. "Honestly, lass, since the fighting hasn't been going on, he hasn't been dilly dallying as you put it. He seems to be more to himself, almost as much as that scout."
Delaney didn't look at the women. "I see." She felt herself suddenly uncomfortable; not that these women meant her any discomfort. She was uncomfortable at the subject. Her feelings for Lancelot not yet sorted out.
"I haven't seen him take time out for feminine company since Bandon Hill." Guinevere insisted, doing her best to try and paint Lancelot as a changed man.
"Ladies, I feel like you're trying to tell me something but I haven't quite figured out what."
"Lancelot likes you." Vanora and Guinevere both said in a rush.
"A lot." Ellen added as she sat next to Vanora. She handed Delaney a piece of paper, "I found this in his chamber when I went into clean it after they left.
Delaney took it and gasped. He had drawn her when she had been talking with Tristan. He caught her profile complete with the full moon in the background. She had a very serious look upon her face. This must have been from the first night when she couldn't sleep. She looked questioningly at Ellen.
It was a talent she didn't know Lancelot had.
"No, he doesn't sketch that often."
"I haven't seen him sketch since he was just a young pup." Vanora commented. "He seemed to stop once he took his first life in one of the scuffles with the Woads."
Delaney absorbed the information. They were saying he had a thing for her. She knew she had a thing for him. But was he just infatuated with the whole stranger in a strange land concept. Or did he really like her? She hadn't felt this confused since highschool!
Vanora's kids were starting to become loud and obnoxious, someone fighting over something. Vanora stood up, grabbing the empty trays, "I guess I need to find a way of entertaining these heathens!"
"Do you have things that need to get done?" Delaney asked. Then she mentally kicked herself. Of course she does! A woman with this many children and a tavern to look after always had tons of stuff to do.
"I need to be cleaning and getting ready for tonight's crowd, but I have nothing for these brats to do."
"Tell you what, since I'm really not able to do much of anything, why don't I tell a story and maybe you can get something done?"
"Oh that would be wonderful, Laney!"
"Okay." She turned the loud group of kids, "Hey, do you want to hear a story or do you want to muck out the stalls?"
"Story!" Gilley called.
"Okay then, I need you all to be quiet so I don't hurt my voice by having to talk over you." She was using her hands to try and quiet the bouncing children.
"Does it have fighting?" Asked one of the boys.
"Big battles!" Cried Gilly and loud murmurs of expected fighting scenes started.
Delaney raided her hand. "Tell you what, it has all of that and more. But you must sit quietly until I'm done, okay?"
All of them nodded. Guinevere sat impatiently waiting. "Would you get on with it, Laney?"
Delaney chuckled. How to begin? She took a deep breathe, "A long time ago in a galaxy far, far away..."
"What's a galaxy?"
"It's a star system."
"What's a star system?"
Delaney sighed, smiling. "Let us pretend that this takes place on one of those many stars you see at night."
"Okay." All of the children nodded, their attention focused solely on Delaney as she began her story.
"Anyway... in a galaxy far, far away..."
&&&&&
"And Luke put his father on the funeral pyre and lit it, thankful that his dad had come back to him and he had found his sister. The end." Delaney finished with a flourish and plopped down on the nearest bench.
"Bravo!" Vanora clapped. She had sat down next to Gilly. "That was brilliant!"
"I didn't write it, it's just one of my favorite stories."
"So he started out good, went bad, and because of the love of his son turned good again?" Guinevere asked.
"Basically yes."
"You need to tell us another one."
"Oh no, not today. I don't think my voice would hold up."
Guinevere nodded, noticing the flushed and exhausted look Delaney had on her face. The woman was in need of some fresh air.
"Would you like to go for a walk Delaney? I can show you where the practice grounds are, for when you are able to shoot a bow again."
"That would be great, Guinevere. I need to try and move otherwise I'll get too stiff and well, it won't be fun." Guinevere nodded in agreement.
&&&&&
They had walked all over the fort, Guinevere showed Delaney where the bath was. As Delaney ran her hand over the intricately fitted stone Guinevere quietly added, "Maybe you and Lancelot should come here once he gets home. You can help him wash the grime from the road."
"Oh yeah, along with all the other knights. I know how Roman baths work, I don't think so."
"Maybe you could have Ellen have a bath waiting for the two of you."
"Aren't you being a wee bit presumptuous? You're talking like they are coming home soon."
Guinevere motioned for Delaney to follow her outside and then she pointed up. There, in the clear sky circled a hawk. Delaney grinned as she felt her stomach knot in anticipation. "That isn't–"
"Oh yes, that's Tristan's hawk. They're coming."
Just then shouts of 'riders' came from along the wall. With a quick glance at each other they hurried up the stairs of the wall and peered out. Sure enough, 7 men came riding from the south. Delaney felt her heart skip a beat. She and Guinevere exchanged glances and watched as they neared. Ellen soon joined them, ringing her hands. She whispered, "I left an apple blossom in his room. Do you think I'm being overly assuming?"
Guinevere and Delaney exchanged a knowing glance. "Not in the least." Ellen grinned and they all watched. Delaney was wiping hair out of her face and commented. "Oh, if only I had time to take a bath." She could feel the stickiness and dirt on her fingers.
"Laney, they've been gone several days. On the road. Do you think they care?"
"True. Okay I may want to have Lancelot have a bath then."
"You could always take one together." Guinevere said with a smirk.
"We've only just kissed!"
"Uh huh," She clearly didn't believe her. "That's why a bath would be so good!"
Delaney blushed a deep crimson and Ellen and Guinevere chuckled. Soon Kensey joined them along with Vanora. "I hope all is well. I counted seven." Vanora exclaimed, her voice just a bit out of breath from running up the stone steps.
Kensey watched. "I don't know, do they all look like they're sitting upright?"
"Yes, Kensey, they all look fine, just fine." Vanora patted the girl on the arm. She turned to Ellen, "Did you get that apple blossom on Dag's pillow?" The girl nodded shyly. "That leaves only Galahad and Tristan without a girl. Someday we'll have to remedy that."
Vanora, Kensey, and Guinevere hurried down to greet the riders. Ellen and Delaney held back. Delaney tried for an air of nonchalance but found she was having problems not fidgeting. Her heart was throbbing against her breast bone and a dozen butterflies seemed to have taken residence in her stomach. She watched as Lancelot rode in, shortly behind Arthur. Arthur had quickly dismounted and spun Guinevere around in his arms while laying a passionate kiss upon her lips. Vanora and Bors greeted each other similarly. Kensey and Gawain were blocked from her view by Dagonet, who dismounted, handed his horse's reigns to Ganis and waved at Ellen when he saw her. The girl's smile almost outshone the sun. Delaney nudged her and she timidly walked over to Dagonet.
Delaney put her hand over her eyes, and watched as they seemed to converse quietly amongst themselves. She smiled triumphantly when they walked away, close together still talking.
"And why are you so pleased?" Lancelot asked quietly, his breath tickling her ear as he gently drew her back against him.
Delaney felt her body shiver as she turned and looked up at him, barely concealing the delighted squeal that escaped her lips. She rose on tip toe and kissed him upon the lips, then quickly pulled away, shocked by her actions.
"That's all the welcome I get?" Lancelot said with a chuckle; his eyes sparkling. He then placed his hands on either side of her face and tasted her lips as if she were a vessel containing the finest of wines, drinking slowly and deeply. When they parted she was breathless and he was grinning and slightly panting. "There, that's better!"
Delaney couldn't form words. Her mind had suddenly gone to mush; only able to feel and burn. She nodded mutely. Lancelot grinned roguishly, "I have left you speechless? With just a kiss? Wait until I show you my other tricks!" He grabbed her hand and they walked down the corridor.
Delaney, finally able to form sentences commented, "I hope you don't plan on showing me those 'other tricks' as you put it til you've had a bath!"
"Care to bathe me?" He would have looked dead serious if it weren't for the impish grin.
"You are a grown man, you can bathe yourself."
"I'll wash your back if you'll wash mine."
"Which means no washing would get done." Delaney smirked herself.
He chuckled. They had come to his door and he paused. "Seriously, I want to wash this grime and muck off. I'll be to your chambers after I'm done."
Delaney felt giddy as a school girl with her first crush. "I'll be waiting."