Chapter 6
It was an hour before dawn and Lancelot was sitting in a chair, watching Adena sleep. He noted that she looked more at peace while she slept, unlike when she was going on about her day. What he found out was that the woman was waiting for something; so she was quiet, invisible, and distant. But it didn't stop the knight's or Vanora from trying to get close to her. The children were the ones to finally crack her cold demeanor.
However she still did not speak very much, unless she was alone with Bors' bastards. But even so, Adena was always worried and in a hurry; never did he see her at peace. He was also glad to have woken up early, Lancelot going to her home to retrieve fresh clothing for the woman. He brought a dark blue dress that looked lovely on her frame. He was happy that they were coming back that same day; so he can see her in it once more before ripping it off her body.
Smiling—which the knight noted he was doing a lot lately—Lancelot walked over to the bed, leaned over the young woman, and kissed her slowly. Adena sighed, kissing back. Easing away, Lancelot watched the young woman blinking open her eyes. She smiled shyly, stretching her arms over her head, and closing her eyes once more.
"You need to wake if you wish to say goodbye." Lancelot told her, leaning towards her again.
"It's too early." She whined, opening her eyes.
Adena blushed, seeing the amusement in the knight's grey eyes. She turned her head to the right, looking out the window. Lancelot smirked, kissing her red cheek before trailing down to her neck. Adena gasped before moaning in pleasure, feeling Lancelot's hands moving the fur cover down. But before anything else could happen, the door opened.
"Lancelot, are you—"
Galahad quickly closed the door, Lancelot's dagger embedding in the door where the younger knight's head would have been. Adena buried her face into the Lancelot's chest, red in embarrassment. Hopefully Galahad did not see her.
"I am awake," was her muffled reply to the silence.
Lancelot laughed shaking his head with amusement.
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—Knight's Court Yard—
Adena hugged both Bors and Dagonet, telling them to be careful. Adena also gave hugs to the other knight's—except Lancelot—and Arthur thanks to their persuasion. Then there was Lancelot. Despite what happened, Adena didn't know how to approach the knight. Maybe he didn't want others to know about them, or show any emotions now. However, as she turned to him, he motioned her over. He held her waist, leaning next to her ear.
"Try to stay out of trouble while we are gone."
Adena nodded, blushing furiously. Giving her a quick smile and a kiss to her lips, Lancelot turned and mounted his stallion. Continuing to blush, Adena shyly backed away as the group of knight's was ready to leave. They first stared at them both in bewilderment, but weren't able to say a word as Arthur gave them order to ride.
As the knight's rode out, Adena walked out of the stables, many people staring at her in disbelief. She blushed, looking down at the ground, and quickly walked away. Number's One and Two smiled to one another, glad that something had finally happened between them. Luckily their mother went to catch up with the younger woman and had not seen their mischief looks to one another.
"Adena, do not tell me that you and Lancelot are lovers!" Vanora said in disbelief.
Adena blushed, looking up to the older woman by a few years. "I don't know, we only been together last night."
Vanora's eyes widen, taking hold of Adena's right arm and stopping her. "Was it your first time, love?"
Adena's blush deepened and dreaded the next questions that she knew the older woman by four years was about to ask.
"Lancelot did not force you, did he? If he did, tell me now! I never thought that man would go as low as to do this to a woman!"
Adena smiled at the motherly concerned Vanroa showed and gave her since she arrived to this time and fort.
"No, I wanted it too."
Vanora let the breath she didn't know that she was holding go. She looped her arm through Adena's and begins walking towards the tavern. At least now she knew who it was that gave that necklace to Adena all those years ago.
"Good, I was about to go after them to beat that knight to a bloody pulp!"
Adena laughed shaking her head. She was happy to have such people be concern over her when they hardly knew her. She wondered how Lancelot will be fairing with the knight's and Arthur asking him questions of his display just a few moments ago.
"The only warning I give you is to be careful with that one. He may break your heart—maybe not on purpose—but he will." Vanora warned her.
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Adena wasn't able to go back to sleep so she worked one of the maids within the fort's shift and her own to keep her busy and her mind away from Lancelot. She didn't know what it was but just something about that man made her… more alive. Though, she feared of having this unknown feeling towards a knight that she knew was destined to die.
Walking into the kitchen before lunch, Vanora had come running in just as Adena grabbed an apple, panting and smiling widely. The younger woman just raised a curious eyebrow, both she and the cook looking at her weirdly.
"They have returned!" She panted out.
Feeling her heart swell, Adena dropped the apple and ran after Vanora, who were both then met up with her children (now eleven of them). They stopped at the gates that surrounded the knight's court yard, seeing them and the bishop's carriage—as well as his escorts. Many of the villagers have also come to see the commotion, wanting a glance at the bishop.
"Welcome back, Arthur." Jols, the stable master, said in greeting, taking the reins from Arthur.
"Jols." Arthur greeted back.
Jols then look over to Lancelot, nodding to him and taking the reins from him. "Lancelot."
Lancelot nods back, looking towards the bishop and his commander. He didn't trust the bishop, especially more since he was a Roman.
"Bishop, please, my quarters have been made available to you." Arthur tells him, motioning towards the entrance.
"Ah, yes. I must rest." The bishop responds, walking away with his faithful servant.
The knight's quickly leave the court yard, everyone watching in amusement as Vanora slaps Bors—who came up to greet her.
"Where've you been? I've been waiting for you!" Vanora said sternly, but playfully.
Bors groans, making Adena laugh and Vanora's lips to twitch upwards. "Oh, my little flower… such passion!" He says before kissing aggressively. "Where's my Gilly?" He picks up number Nine. "Gilly; you've been fighting?"
"Yes," Gilly said with a wide smile.
"You've been winning?" Bors asks with a raised eyebrow.
"Yes,"
"That's my boy. Come on, all my other bastards!" Bors calls them.
"Yay!" They all cry, the family leaving.
Adena chuckles quietly, moving to walk away. But a hand stops her and she quickly looks up to see who it was. She smiles shyly as she sees Lancelot standing close to her, blushing lightly as he moves his arm to her lower back. He smiles ghostly and steers her towards the Knight's stables, Adena curious as to what he was doing.
The knight took her to the last stall and there inside stood a pure black Thessalian. Adena's mouth dropped open a bit in both surprised and shock, these breeds very rare back in her time. So to see this fine stallion before her made her feel very excited. Adena slowly walked up to the stall, the black stallion prancing about. He neighs and moves his head before stomping his right foot to the ground. The young woman merely stood still, watching and admiring the fine stallion.
"How the hell did the Roman's ever get a Thessalian breed—a very rare breed?" Adena whispered to herself.
The stallion snorted and walked forward, staring unblinking at the woman. Adena slowly reached out, not wanting to startle the fine breed. The stallion then nudged the woman's left shoulder, Adena chuckling softly. She stroked his muzzle, smiling widely.
"Bors' two oldest children told me where they were taking you two weeks ago before the Woad's attacked." Lancelot said quietly.
Adena nodded, now stroking the stallion's neck beneath his mane.
"Yes, but they also told me the horse was not tamed. This Thessalian is very much tamed." She said with some confusion.
"He is not tamed. But he seems to have taken a liking to you. The Thessalian does not even let Tristan near him." Lancelot said a bit surprised.
Adena hummed, brining back her hand feeling as though being watched—and not from Lancelot. The stallion suddenly started neighing, prancing about his stall. Adena looked sharply to the right just as Lancelot unsheathed his swords, also turning around. A Roman of high command—which Lancelot noticed had come with the bishop—standing at the other side of the stables.
"What are you doing in the knight's stable? No Roman should enter here!" Lancelot said in a monotone voice.
"I heard of the Roman's here had captured a wild beast and wanted to see it for myself." He explained.
He was looking at the woman up and down before looking behind her.
"You have seen it, but it is tamed and belongs to this woman. Now leave before I make you." Lancelot sneered, having noticed how the Roman looked at Adena.
The Roman glared at Lancelot before looking back down at the woman, Adena seeing nothing but lust and desire in his eyes.
"How ever did you tame such a wild beast, woman?" The Roman asked sweetly.
Adena kept her mouth shut, her heart beating against her chest. Lancelot suddenly moved in front of her, glaring angrily at the Roman.
"That is her business. Now leave!"
The Roman's eyes flashed angrily, but nodded. He walked away, but not before glancing back at the woman. Adena shuddered visibly as soon as he was gone, having nothing but a bad feeling of the man. With a groan, she closed her eyes, trying to calm her heart. She opened her eyes when she felt Lancelot take hold of her waist. Adena placed her own hands on his upper arms, smiling reassuring at the angry knight.
"Be at peace, my knight. I only have eyes for you." She whispered, laughing inside at the choice of her words.
Lancelot smirked, stepping closer to the woman. "Aye that I know; it is only that bastard of a Roman I do not trust."
Smiling softly, Adena took a step closer, went on her tip toes and kissed him quickly. But as she went back to her normal height, Lancelot dipped down and kissed her hungrily. Adena couldn't help the moan that escaped, grabbing on to his tunic. Smirking against her lips, Lancelot pulled back, caressing the woman's cheek.
"Go, I know you still have work. I have a meeting with Arthur and the bishop, so I will see you tonight." Lancelot whispered before kissing her once more.
Blushing, Adena smiled shyly and walked out to the right into the fort, needing to finish one more corridor. However, she failed to have noticed someone watching her from a distance, glaring towards the stables.
A/N: So the movie part has started, and a bit of a conflict with a Roman. Well let me know what you think, please review!