CHAPTER 14

Arthur and Lancelot led Lourdes to where the seven knights and their fellow travellers had set up their makeshift homes. The encampment was almost deserted, with Sarmatians still flocking around the competition areas, cheering on their favourite champions. With no enemies in the area and only friendly, peaceful Sarmatians around her, Lourdes was thankful that she could finally be at ease. She pulled the hood from her head as she sat by the fire that Lancelot had begun.

"I shall find the others and let them know the good news." Arthur smiled and bowed his head to Lourdes before disappearing into the distance, leaving Lancelot and Lourdes alone.

Lancelot pursed his lips as he sat down across from her. For some reason or another, he would not meet her eyes. Throwing more wood into the crackling fire, he cleared his throat, shaking his knees.

"Is something the matter, Lancelot?" Lourdes asked worriedly, crossing her arms on her knees, moving to his side.

He smiled reassuringly, finally looking up at her. "No, no. I... I just don't know quite what to say."

"Tell me of your journeys." Lourdes gave him a warm smile, curiosity filling her eyes. "Tell me of your life as a free man."

Lancelot gave out a small laugh, running his fingers through his hair. "I have never felt more alive."

"I am happy to hear that." she replied sincerely, smiling. She placed a hand on his arm. "You are deserving of such happiness."

"There are just some things I wish I could change." Lancelot admitted cryptically, looking deeply into her eyes. "Many things."

"Everything happens for a reason." Lourdes whispered, trying her best to hold his gaze. She was almost empowered by his eyes, which seemed to relentlessly pry into her thoughts, her soul. "You must not regret what has happened in the past."

"But what if I do?"

Lourdes opened her mouth to answer, but before she could, she was interrupted by a loud, happy cry and felt herself being lifted off the ground. She felt alarmed for only a few seconds before she recognized whom the voice belonged to.

"Lass! Welcome back!" cried Bors, hugging her tightly, her feet lifting off the ground. "It has been so long since we've seen ye!"

"Oh, Bors!" she laughed heartily, embracing the large man in return when she caught her breath. "Dagonet! Gawain! Tristan!"

Each knight took their turn in welcoming Lourdes back, embracing her lovingly. Even Tristan did so, ruffling her hair in the process. She was filled with so much joy, thankful that all of the knights looked healthy and well. They had not drastically changed from the last time she had seen them, but what she noticed were the subtle changes: relatively clean clothing, dirtied, she supposed, only by the tournament's events; and the geniunely content smiles on their countenances. These loyal men were now all free, and it warmed her heart to know that they could all finally live the lives that they chose.

It was then that she turned slightly to her right, and from the corner of her eye, she spotted another familiar figure. She looked up slowly to meet Galahad's eyes, a sight that she had longed to see ever since they had parted that cold winter night. She observed the knight slowly, seeing that he had shaved his beard and mustache, his handsome face smooth to the touch. He looked at her with a mixture of relief and bewilderment, evident that he also thought it was nearly impossible for them to meet again.

Bors and Tristan glanced at each other with knowing looks as Lourdes and Galahad walked slowly towards each other.

"Galahad..." she began with a smile, stopping a few feet away from him.

"Galahad, you would not believe just how..."

Lourdes turned to the origin of the voice, seeing a blonde-haired, blue-eyed woman stop just at Galahad's side. She continued to speak with him, still unaware of the situation.

Galahad pried his eyes away from Lourdes for a few moments, looking at the young woman expectantly. She finally stopped talking, realizing what was happening, as her eyes turned to look at Lourdes.

"Oh, forgive me!" she blushed, clearly embarrassed as she quickly curtsied. "I did not mean to intrude on your meeting..."

"It is alright, Isabella." Galahad responded, his head tilted to her side. He slowly turned his head and gaze to Lourdes, who stood in front of him, frozen.

Bors and Tristan cleared their throats, eyeing one another to leave the scene. Dagonet and Gawain followed their lead, motioning to the captivated Lancelot as well. Lancelot kept his jaw firm, seeing the silent exchange between Lourdes and Galahad before stalking off into the night. The other knights groaned inwardly, knowing that this day was to come sooner or later.

"Well, are you not going to introduce me, milord?" Isabella began, breaking the awkward silence between Galahad and Lourdes.

Galahad looked as though he had snapped out of a trance, softly clearing his throat. "I...uh..."

Isabella rolled her eyes, extending a hand out to Lourdes. "I am Isabella of Kensington, daughter of the Earl of Kensington. I am Galahad's bride to be."

Lourdes' face turned white, her worst fears becoming a reality. She felt weak as she shook the young woman's hand. Galahad would not look at her as she spoke.

"I am Lourdes of Shino, daughter of..." she trailed off, partly because she did not want to reveal her identity, and partly because she felt incredibly faint. "A-are you enjoying the festivities?"

"Oh yes, quite!" smiled Isabella, taking her arm. "Sir Galahad here just won an archery contest! Oh, I am so delighted! T'was tough competition, but he managed to become the champion!"

Lourdes managed to look at Galahad, who kept his eyes on the ground. "That is great news, milord. Many congratulations."

Isabella grinned even wider, pride evident in her eyes. "Did you want me to show you around the competition areas? I must say, there are many..."

Smiling, Lourdes shook her head politely. "No, it is late, and you need your rest." she paused as Isabella nodded to her, disappointed. "I have journeyed for hours, and I feel as though I must rest for the night."

"I understand." Isabella curtsied once more before turning to Galahad. "Dear, if you need me, I shall be back at our tent."

She smiled one last time at Lourdes before leaving Galahad and she alone.

Galahad barely moved from where he stood ever since he saw Lourdes. So many emotions coursed through his veins. So many things that he wanted to say to her replayed in his mind, but he could not speak. He felt as though he was under some sort of spell, shoked by her sudden appearance, unable to form any rational thing to say.

Hiding her tearful face from him, Lourdes turned briskly and left without warning. She sobbed quietly, wrapping her cloak more tightly around her as she walked to an unknown destination. How could she have been so foolish? What did she wish to accomplish upon her return? Did she really think that things would be the same a year ago? Did she think that the knights lived static lives, that they would not move on?

It was then and there that she could no longer deny what she felt for Galahad. It had confused her, and she had denied it for so long, for she had never experienced such feelings before. But at that moment, she knew that it was real, that the pain that she was feeling in her heart was a testament to the attachment that had grown in her heart for the young knight. Distance only made her heart grow fonder, and the longing that she felt for the knight became almost unbearable.

And now, it was too late.

She was too late.

Lourdes slowly looked up to see Galahad's retreating form. She wanted to badly to call out to him, to scream at the top of her lungs what she felt for him. But only sobs succeeded to escape her lips as she fell on her knees, dropping her head, letting the tears cascade freely down her face.

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Galahad fought with all his might to keep the tears from forming in his eyes. He breathed heavily, clenching his fists as he made his way back to his encampment. It took all his strength to walk away from Lourdes, to leave her once more. Why was he so foolish? Why couldn't he just take her in his arms, comfort her, tell her the truth...

He had convinced himself that letting her go was the best decision. What were the chances of them seeing each other once more? He knew that holding onto something that he was never sure he was to have was...foolish. But should he have had a little more faith? Should he have trusted his conscience, his heart, and defied all common sense?

He felt so much anger, pain and regret. He knew he had made a sacrifice in letting her go with Merlin all those months ago. And he was on the verge of making another sacrifice now.

Galahad berated himself repeatedly. He should have followed his heart. He should have known such an unspoken feeling was the strongest of all. Why did he convince himself otherwise?

That was when he scoffed to himself. He had always placed other things before his own happiness, before his own impulses, such as duty, friendship and Lourdes herself.

He was a knight of the Round Table, his life dedicated to battle. Every breath that he took was precious, and every day could be his last. How could he settle down when his duty was to leave his home, protect the people and serve his country?

Galahad was not daft. From the beginning, he knew of Lancelot's feelings for Lourdes. Whether his feelings ran as deeply for her as his own, well, he would never know. But what he did know that he would never let a woman come between him and a friend whom he had known for years. And even if Lancelot did 'allow' them to be together, would he be truly happy in knowing that he had hurt his friend?

And Lourdes. Sweet, sweet Lourdes. Her unique being had given his life new meaning, had shown him a side of the world that he never thought could exist. But he did not want her to care for him, to constantly worry about his well-being. She deserved a calm, happy life, one devoid of pain, anger and war. What were the latter but part of a knight's livelihood?

His reasonings were rational. They were chivalrous.

But deep down in his being, he despised them.

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A/N: Ouch. Now that hurt. Anyway, there is more to come shortly! I think I will get carpal tunnel syndrome from writing this story. But hey, at least I'm happy when I'm writing! ) PLEASE REVIEW! Let me know you are reading this and are enjoying it! (Or not...and if not, why? I'll use your comments to improve, I swear!) How's everything going so far? Are you guys torn between Lancelot and Galahad yet? Good characters, plot, etc? Liking the angst? Want more romance and drama? Want more mystery, violence, blood and gore? Basically, what do you want to happen? LET ME KNOW! Thank you all once more for taking the time to read this and reviewing. Next chapters will be up soon! )