Yeah, well, I know this was supposed to be a one-shot story, but I've changed my mind – and I hope you'll be happy with that!
I'll write whenever my bunnies decide I must, so there won't be regular updates or a standard length for the chapters. (This chapter for instance is a lot shorter than the previous one). I'm half way done with the third chapter, though.

Disclaimer: I own nothing or no one. My beloved Lancelot follows me everywhere because he wants. I'm not forcing him to anything!
A/N: English is not my native language and I'm still learning it; I'll be glad if you help me pointing at any error you find!
Though any remaining mistake is still mine, I must thank my dearest Lady Calliann for being my beta!
Any feedback will always be welcome, so please review and let me know what you think - and since I don't know where I'm going with the story, any suggestion will be considered!

All glory in this chapter goes to Calliann!

Tristan watched from the shadows as Lancelot took Diann to the top of the old tower, and wondered when that had happened. Not that he had never noticed the feelings Diann and Lancelot had for each other, but he honestly believed neither of them would ever confess their feelings. Lancelot was always following her around, granting her every wish, but he was too proud to admit he had been tamed by a woman. Tamed was possibly a strong word, but how else could one explain that Diann was the only one able to make Lancelot shut his big mouth with no more than a look? Diann on the other hand would never admit that Lancelot held more space in her heart than the others. She was always forcing herself to be fair and give all the knights the same amount of attention – but an observant eye could easily notice that Lancelot received a far more tender attention than the others. Tristan had been sure they would hide their feelings forever, but it seemed that the scout was wrong; watching them in that private moment, their love was almost palpable.

While the couple seemed to be lost in each other's arms at the top of the tower, Tristan started to make his way through the garden. The full moon was high in the sky, and Essyllt would probably be there soon. If he had imagined that Lancelot and Diann would still be in the gardens this late at night, he would have asked Essyllt to meet him near the lake, as usual - but he wanted her to see the roses blossoming under the full moon light; he knew how much she loved flowers. Tristan shook his head softly, amused by his own train of thought; this woman had certainly messed with his head.

He turned his eyes to the garden's entrance just in time to see a shadow making its way through the garden. They met in the middle, and Essyllt took down her cloak, letting her red hair fall loosely over her shoulders. Her green eyes were shining bright under the moonlight, and Tristan gave her a soft smile, offering her a hand. Smiling gently back at him, she took it. Walking in silence through the flowers, Tristan watched the delight in Essyllt's face as she observed her surroundings. Her eyes traveled all over the garden, finally spotting Lancelot and Diann embraced at the top of the tower. She turned to Tristan and raised a questioning eyebrow at him, an open smile dancing on her lips.

"You never told me Diann had a lover."

Tristan answered coolly, but his eyes carried a hint of mischievousness. "She still didn't have one last time I saw you."

Essyllt tilted her head, puzzled. "But I've met you just this noon…" Tristan let a small smirk form on his lips, and Essyllt's expression changed as understanding fell upon her. "Oh… Well, we should give the new couple a bit of privacy, then," she winked at him, and he smiled softly. Taking her by the hand once more, he led her out of the gardens. They walked through the empty streets of the fort without a destination, just enjoying each other's company and chatting quietly.

Essyllt turned curiously to Tristan. "The man with Diann, is he one of the knights?"

Tristan smirked. Diann and Essyllt had grown closer since the red-haired woman moved to the fort that was true, but he knew the healer probably hadn't said a word about her feelings towards the dark knight. If he knew her well, the only one to whom she would tell something would probably be Galahad, given that those two were like twins. "I thought you and Diann were close friends. She didn't tell you anything?"

Essyllt frowned, but then smirked playfully at him. "There's but one knight we talk about when we are together."

Tristan smirked back at her, his dark eyes shining with her answer. "Lancelot. Diann was with Lancelot."

Essyllt tilted her head, surprised. "Lancelot? The great womanizer I've heard so much about?"

Tristan mused that Essyllt's surprise would probably be echoed by the others when they found out, and he smirked. "Diann has always enjoyed a challenge."

Essyllt shook her head, disapproval clearly in her voice. "A challenge? You can't be serious! Will you let her be seduced by a man like him?"

Tristan stopped and turned to her. He knew Lancelot wasn't exactly one of Arthur's angels, but Diann wasn't an innocent girl either - and both of them knew exactly what they were getting themselves into. He faced her with a serious expression. "A man like him? What kind a man do you think Lancelot is?"

Essyllt was taken aback by the grave tone of his voice, but she stood her ground, and made her best to match Tristan's attitude. "Lancelot is a lecherous lascivious man! He cares for nothing but his own pleasure!"

Her words distressed him. He would never allow anyone to talk about one of his brothers like that, not even a woman he cared for. Tristan glared at her. "You talk as if you knew him."

"I've met him just once, but I heard stories. I know what people say about him." She frowned, and Tristan shook his head.

"So you also know that people say I'm a heartless and cold-blooded killer. Do you believe them?" He stared intensely at her.

Essyllt stared at him in disbelief, and opened her mouth few times, searching for the right words. She shook her head softly. "No, I don't believe them. I know you better than that."

"But you should." She stared at him in disbelief, and Tristan explained further. "You never saw me on a battlefield, the same as you never saw Lancelot courting a girl. The stories you've heard about us are not totally true, but they are not totally false either."

She reached out a hand and cupped his face, "You're not heartless, that much I know."

Tristan leaned into her touch and closed his eyes. "But I'm a killer. That's my duty. And if you want to be part of my life, you'll need to understand that."

Caressing his cheek, she sighed. "I understand you have a duty to Rome. I'll never question that nor hold it against you." Without opening his eyes, Tristan nodded and embraced Essyllt, bringing her closer to him. She rested her head on his chest and sighed again, "What about Lancelot? What part of what is said about him is true?"

Tristan smirked, "That he's a lecherous and lascivious womanizer." Essyllt raised an eyebrow at him, and he added in a more serious tone. "And also that he's Arthur's first and best knight, and the most loyal one among us."

Essyllt shook her head softly, "A loyal womanizer? How can that be?"

Tristan raised an eyebrow. How could he explain a complex man like Lancelot? It would be better if Essyllt asked Diann about it; she was the one who could see the dark knight's heart better after all. Essyllt stared at him though, waiting for an answer, and he tried to put in words something that one could only understand after watching Lancelot for years. "Lancelot may bed a different woman every night, but he only takes from them what they're willing to give him, and he never promises anything he can't keep."

Essyllt tilted her head. "So you're saying that it's not Lancelot's fault if women keep falling in love with him, even knowing his reputation?"

Tristan nodded softly. "Yes, something like that. Does it make sense to you?"

Essyllt stared intensely at him. "Yes. It's not his fault if Diann loves him." Getting close to his face, she whispered. " Same way it's not your fault if I fell in love with you."

Smiling, Tristan looked into her beautiful green eyes and whispered back, "But I would gladly take the blame for it." He leaned closer to her and captured her lips in a deep and avid kiss. Bringing his hands to the small of her back and he pressed her body against his, while she ran her hands through his hair.

They remained lost in each other for several moments, until Essyllt broke their kiss, gasping for air. Flushed, she looked around her, and noticed they weren't in the middle of the street anymore, but in a quiet hallway. "Where are we exactly?"

Tristan quickly recognized the path they had followed by chance, and smirked mischievously at her. "Right outside my room."

Essyllt smiled playfully up at him, and ran a hand through his beard. Their eyes locked and Tristan raised a mischievous and inquiring eyebrow at her. She answered his unsaid question by kissing him again. He broke the kiss and stared deeply into her eyes, appreciating all the beauty he found in them. She leaned closer to him, kissing his earlobe and whispering suggestively, "Take me to your room."

Tristan stared into her eyes again and nodded. He opened his door, lifting her up in his arms and carrying her to his room as she kissed his neck fervently. Closing the door behind him with one of his feet, he made his way through his room and placed Essyllt in his bed. He watched as she slowly removed his clothes, running her fingernails over his chiseled body. He closed his eyes and gave into the sensation of her touch, shivering when he felt her mouth on his body again, sucking his neck. He turned to her and captured her mouth, laying her down slowly as his hands removed her dress. He felt her soft skin against his body, and stared into her green eyes again. They were burning with desire, and he smiled. This woman had certainly messed with his head. And with his heart.