Chapter Three

The singing of the early morning birds broke through the fog that muddled Juliana's tired mind. She woke groggily, not wanting to open her eyes to the invading sunlight. There was nothing more alluring to her right then then the sleep that hovered just at the edge of her reality. Roosters added their crows to the cacophony. Juliana wanted to throw her pillow at the annoying birds, but instead buried her head beneath it, hoping that the flat pillow could block out the invading sounds. No such luck.

There was no excuse to Juliana's tiredness. She was used to waking before the sun even tainted the horizon. But not this morning. This morning she woke with a headache that she could only explain as a hangover, even though she had only ever touched un-watered wine for communion and Christmas. She had no reason to feel this way.

An image from the night before floated before her mind's eye. The drunken knight and his slow advance towards her. The feel of his body so close to hers, his breath warm on her face. The look of pure want and desire in his eyes. His hand, strong and calloused, making its way towards her face. And his lips, carefully framed by a dark beard, so beautiful and manly and desirous.

Juliana bolted up in bed. She should not be having these thoughts. It was a sin. She was a bride of God for heaven's sake. She could not think of a man in this way. If Mother Superior ever found out she would have Juliana sent back to Rome, and that was just something that the young woman could not allow.

Crossing herself quickly, sending up a prayer of forgiveness, and rattling of a rushed Hail Mary, Juliana stepped out of bed and dressed quickly. She had chores to do and she was probably already late for morning Mass.

> > > > >

Groaning, Galahad turned onto his back and clutched his head. He had a hangover that could rival his worst battle wound. His whole body felt as if it were trapped in a vice and pulled into every different direction. Too much wine had been consumed the night before. Galahad winced at the sound of the roosters' crow. The damned animals were going to die.

"Wake up you lazy bastard." Someone pushed at him. Galahad groaned. Whoever it was that stood over him had better leave him alone or he would not be responsible for his actions.

"Get up, we have work to do." The hand pushed at him again. Galahad swatted it away much as if it were a fly.

"That does it."

Galahad felt his mattress being picked up and felt himself flying through the air only to land on the wooden floor of his room.

"Damn it." Galahad cried, struggling to his feet. His vision swam slightly and his supper threatened to revisit him. Gawain stood in front of him, lips parted in a mocking laugh.

"What was that for?" Galahad spoke slowly, concentrating on keeping the food in his stomach.

"It's past sun-up." Gawain said casually, as if he were simply paying an easy visit to his friend and fellow knight.

Galahad cast a look out the window to see that the sun was indeed already above the horizon. He cursed beneath his breath and rushed to get ready. Arthur would have his head if he was late for sword training, again.

Gawain laughed gaily as the younger knight struggled into his leggings and fumbled with his sword belt. Galahad shot him a look, but the other knight continued with his laughter. Shaking his head, Galahad focused on buckling his belt and adjusting his sword so that it was within easy reach.

"How can you be so awake after the night we had?" He couldn't resist asking the laughing knight.

"I did not drink nearly as much as you and Bors." Gawain said.

The two knights walked out of Galahad's room and headed down to the practice court where Arthur was, no doubt, already waiting for them.

They passed through the gardens- the shortest route to the training yard- and the vague memories that Galahad of the night before floated to the forefront of his mind.

A maiden had been there, one that he had not recognized as being of Arthur's court. She had to be an apparition, a figment of his imagination. No Britain nor Roman had hair the color of fire or eyes as gray as smoke.

Remembering her fair skin, barely covered by her flimsy shift, and her soft, curved figure, Galahad could feel his blood pooling in his nether regions.

He shook his head forcefully, extolling the memories from his mind. His head needed to be cleared if he were to fight well that morning. There was no need for distractions, especially the kind that come from sprites.

Arthur was waiting for them in the practice yard, a stern, unyielding look on his face. His jaw was set firmly and he looked every bit the king that he was.

"We are not that late, are we?" Galahad asked, slightly frightened by his commander's stern gaze.

"No," Arthur shook his head slowly, "you are not late."

"Ah bloody hell." Bors stumbled into the training yard, clutching his head. His face was deathly pale with a tinge of green. Galahad praised whatever gods there were that he did not look nearly as bad as his friend.

Arthur turned his formidable gaze onto the latest arrival.

"Good," he said nodding slightly, "we may go now."

Galahad was beyond confused. What the hell was Arthur talking about? Go where?

Arthur started across the yard, heading in the general direction of the church.

"Just where the bloody hell are we going?" Bors voiced the question that the three knights were all thinking.

Arthur continued on in silence.

"Arthur, what is going on?" Gawain asked. Arthur turned to survey his knights, his gaze softening slightly.

"My friends, we are going to church."

Galahad stopped mid-step. Church? He would give his life for Arthur, he would endure torture for his king, but Galahad drew the line at church. He would not step foot in a place where he knew religion would be forced down his throat until he could take it no more and would go mad. No, he would not do it.

> > > > >

Galahad could not believe that he was walking into the church behind Arthur. The king had offered them no alternative. They were being made to go. But then, Arthur had explained it in a way that made sense.

The one nun, the one that seemed to rule over the others, was under the thumb of Rome and that of Bishop Germanous. She was to report back to Rome whether or not Arthur and his court were attending the Masses held or not.

Arthur did not want to risk her sending back a report that said that none showed up to Mass. He would not allow his people to come under Rome's attack if it were the last thing he did.

Though Galahad understood now, he still did not like the fact that he had to attend church when he did not believe what it was that they taught there.

He followed Arthur inside and stopped just in the doorway, afraid to step over the threshold. What would happen when he stepped inside? Would he be struck dead? Ha, the idea made him laugh. But still, Galahad was edgy about stepping inside the stone building.

Behind him, Bors pushed roughly on his back. The burly knight was no more in the mood to step inside the church than Galahad was, but he also didn't want to be kept outside all day. Galahad drew in a breath and stepped over the threshold.

Inside, the church was just as plain and bare as it was on the outside. There were no decorations besides the large crossed, ornately carved from the trunk of a cedar tree, which hung on the wall behind the pulpit where the priest would deliver his sermon. The benches on which the knights sat were made of wood and un-cushioned. The floor was plain stone, and there was a row of small window on either side of the sanctuary. A table sat in front of the pulpit, a basket of bread and a metal goblet sat on top of it.

Galahad glanced over his shoulder and saw that the rest of Arthur's court was filing into the church behind them. Not one of them looked happy to be there.

Arthur led them down to the front where Guinevere was waiting for them. She looked uncomfortable, shifting on the bench and casting looks at the people around her. Arthur laid his hand over hers and she stilled. Galahad watched as they spoke to each other, not with words but in glances. It was as if the couple had their own secret language which no one else was privy to.

He took his seat, Bors and Gawain beside him, and waited for the service to begin. The nuns filed in through a side door and took their seats facing out at the congregation. Galahad allowed his eyes to sweep their faces. The women looked old beyond their years, as if service to their god drained them of their very life. Most were stooped shouldered and had wrinkles etched deeply into their faces. A handful still held onto their youthfulness, but not many. One woman caught Galahad's eye. She was younger than the rest, many years younger in fact, yet she seemed old. Her face was solemn and there were lines already forming at the corners of her eyes. Those eyes, Galahad recognized them. The very same eyes that had stared back at him in the garden the night before.

> > > > >

Juliana felt as if someone were watching her. Glancing around her discreetly, she was shocked to see the man from the previous night. She studied him. In the early light of morning he looked just as roguishly handsome as he had in the night. Juliana mentally chastised herself. It was time to focus on God, not on the knight seated in the front row.

Father Gannis entered the sanctuary and the service began. Juliana went through the motions of worship; saying her prayers in a trance. Her eyes could not, or possibly would not, stray from the knight's face. What was more shocking than her unusual lack of reverence, was that the knight seemed to be watching her as well. A blush threatened to color Juliana's face, but she held it at bay. Blushing in front of the entire church would not be a good thing to do.

The sacraments of bread and wine were given over an hour later and Father Gannis dismissed the congregation. Juliana filed out of the church with her fellow Sisters, fighting the urge to look over her shoulder at the knight that still watched her.

> > > > >

So, what did y'all think? I know it's a little slow moving right now, but it should pick up soon. Galahad and Juliana will be thrown together a bit more and there are some things that I have planned to happen that should be a little shocking. Anyways, please review as I am anxious to hear (or rather read) what y'all have to say.

homeric, Evenstar-mor2004, greenDayzIdiot, MedievalWarriorPrincess, the sarahnater, mistygayle, lozcollie, Alexis in Wonderland, chickenliver, and KinghtMaiden: Thank you all so much for reviewing. I really like knowing how much you guys enjoy this story.