Sorry it took so long for me to update. Writer's block sure is a pesky thing isn't it? I want to thank all you wonderful people who reviewed the last chapter: homeric, TheHollister, KnightMaiden, grullo-cowgirl, The Wild Woman, Wander of the Roads, bloodredcherry, You'reJustJealousCozISoundLikeARockstar, Nilmelwen, Evenstar-mor2004, problemgirl008, LegolasIsMine, wild-vixen, wintersummerspringfall, greenDayzIdiot, DirrtyXtina87, and Lady Marek. You guys are truly amazing. Thank you. Now, on with the chapter.

Chapter Sixteen

Juliana pulled her cloak tightly around her as she made her way towards the far wall of the church's courtyard. The wind buffeted around her, biting at her face and chafing her hands. Her hair blew about her face in a wild cloud of curls. A shiver ran down her spine and Juliana rubbed her red-knuckled hands together to keep the blood flowing. Why, on every other day, did the courtyard feel so small?

The clang of sword meeting sword sounded across the yard, calling to Juliana like a siren on the rocks and her footsteps hastened towards the sound.

Once at the wall, she stood on her tip-toes to see over top. Just as she had thought, Galahad was there, his sword glinting in the pale winter sunlight as he swept it in a high arc. Juliana felt her pulse being to race as she watched him. The power and grace in his movements was enough to drive any woman, nun or not, mad.

Almost as if he could sense her watching, Galahad's eyes moved from his opponent, a fierce looking bald-headed man, to Juliana. Her heart stopped for a second before she forced herself to calm. This was, after all, the reason she'd come to the wall. To see Galahad, and have him see her. Taking in a deep breath, she kept her eyes locked with his. A look of confusion and hope swept over his face. But it quickly vanished and his attention refocused on his opponent.

A confused frown furrowed Juliana's brow. What was happening? In the past Galahad had always been so…eager to see her. But now he acted as if Juliana were not even there. So what had changed?

> > > > >

Never before had Galahad been more aware of someone watching him. He knew it was Juliana, he'd seen her peeking above the wall, an almost hungry expression in her eyes.

Galahad had wanted to go to her, to drop everything and jump the wall that separated them. He wanted to hold her and kiss her and claim her as his own. But just as quickly as the thoughts entered his mind, he pushed them away. What use was it to make promises to oneself if one did not intend to keep them?

> > > > >

Moving through the small crowd that surrounded the practice court, Guinevere found an empty space at the fence and moved towards it. Leaning her elbows against the rough wood, she watched as Galahad and Bors maneuvered around one another. Their blades cut through the still air with a loud swoosh.

Her eyes moved over the spectators. Most were children (mainly Bors'), their eager young faces watching the knights and their eyes lit with awe. But a few young maids stood around, their eyes focused on Galahad and their lips turned up in flirtatious smiles. Some men also joined the circle, mainly stable hands or others who worked close to Camelot's manor house.

A stone wall fenced in one section of the practice yard. It was the wall that separated the church from the rest of the village. And above that wall, Guinevere spotted a head of fiery red hair. With a quick glance around, Guinevere noted that only she noticed the young woman who's eager eyes were fixed on Galahad.

Perhaps I'm not the only one who's noticed her, Guinevere thought as she watched Galahad's eyes move- ever so slightly- to the young woman. A fire lit in his eyes, one of passion and longing. But it quickly faded and he was once more moving with swift grace around the yard. Guinevere moved her gaze back to the young woman. The dark, somber eyes were shrouded in hurt and her bow shaped lips were turned down at the corners in a disappointed frown. She was pretty, Guinevere had to give the young woman that. And, obviously, there was- or had been at least- something between her and Galahad. Why else would she be at the wall, risking the wrath of the stodgy old woman who ruled over the nuns?

Guinevere's lips turned up at the corners in a sly smile. She always had loved a challenge.

> > > > >

The harsh wind brushed across Juliana's face. Her hair flew about her like a flame over the barren landscape. With her legs curled up beneath her, Juliana sat at the edge of the stream; its waters unchanged by the icy weather.

She stared at the flowing water, her mind taking her back to a time when her lime had been so simple. So easy and uncomplicated. But now her life had changed.

She had said she'd make the most of her remaining time in Britain, but that idea had fled the second that Galahad turned his back on Juliana. Her heart was crushed. Why had he ignored her so?

Tears sprang to Juliana's eyes, but were quickly whisked away on the wind. She had only wanted to talk to him, to tell him good-bye and the truth…she was in love with him. For she had come to realize, with the knowledge that she was being sent away, that she truly did care for him. But now Juliana would not have that chance. Galahad wanted nothing to do with her. And Juliana couldn't blame him. She had brushed off his feelings for her so cold-heartedly. There was no hope that he would ever speak to her again, not after she had hurt him so badly. Juliana realized that now.

A shadow fell over her, blotting out the bit of sun that insisted on peeking through the heavy clouds. She looked up in surprise, startled that she had not even heard anyone approach.

The woman that stood over her was one of the most beautiful women that Juliana had ever seen. Her nut brown hair hung over her shoulders in glossy ringlets, framing a heart shaped face from which two intelligent eyes gazed down at Juliana. Her slender figure was garbed in a simple yet elegant dress of the deepest green.

Juliana recognized her from Mass. Queen Guinevere.

"Your Majesty?" Juliana scurried to her feet and bowed low to the wife of King Arthur. A soft laugh floated down to Juliana's ears before being borne away on the wind. Shocked, Juliana looked up into the queen's gentle eyes.

"You don't have to bow to me." Guinevere stated. "You're a woman who serves a higher power. I may not believe in your god, but I understand that you're a holy woman. And in this land, our holy people do not need to bow to mere queens."

Juliana straightened until she stood eye to eye with the young queen.

"What brings you out here on such a day as this, my lady?" Juliana asked, clinging to the decorum that she had been taught as a child.

"I saw you today, at the wall separating the church and the knight's practice court." Guinevere replied simply. Juliana fought to hide her surprise. She had thought no one had seen her, that she had escaped with only Galahad to witness the shame and embarrassment he'd caused her.

"I…" her mind could not bring forth an excuse. Shaking her head, Juliana rambled, words coming out of her mouth before she could think of what they were. "I only was there because I wanted to know what the sound was that the wind carried to my window. I didn't mean to-"

"It is alright. I'm not here to reprimand you for watching a little sword play." Guinevere shook her head and laughed. "Why would I do that? I am not heartless. I would not deny a person their curiosity."

Juliana felt her cheeks flush with embarrassment for being caught tongue-tied by the queen. For surely this woman, as stately as she was, had never been without the proper words to explain herself. Juliana felt like a simple forest flower to Guinevere's rose. She paled in comparison to the woman who could not have possibly been older than herself. And yet Juliana felt like a small child while Guinevere was the older sister who knew so much more of the world.

"I've sought you out for a specific reason." Guinevere said, bringing Juliana's mind back to the plain.

"Me?" Juliana did not understand what it was that Guinevere wanted with her. Why the queen would want her, a nun, for any reason.

"Yes, you, Juliana." Guinevere's smile was one of patience. The young nun's eyes flew to those of the queen. How had she learned Juliana's name?

"After I saw you at the wall, I asked around about you." Guinevere explained, seeing Juliana's expression.

"It only took a few moments for me to pry your name from Galahad."

Galahad. Juliana paled at his name. He was her demise. The reason she was being sent back to Rome. And she loved him so much.

Had he told Guinevere merely her name, or everything else that had transpired between them? And how had she known to ask Galahad in the first place?

"I saw you watching him earlier." It was as if Guinevere could read her mind. Juliana lowered her eyes and stared at the dirt that peeked out between blades of rustling grass.

"Tell me, Juliana, when was it that you found yourself in love with him?"

"Please my lady," Juliana whispered, "do not make me tell you my sins." Her eyes went beseechingly to Guinevere's. "I have tortured myself enough over my lustful thoughts. And for those thoughts I am being punished."

"It's not a sin to love someone." Guinevere shook her head, a sad look in her eyes as she looked at Juliana. "Is that what they teach you?"

"Nun's are not supposed to love in such a way that I care for Galahad." Juliana confessed. She didn't know why, but she felt as if she could tell this to Guinevere, that her feelings would be safe with the young queen.

"It is forbidden for us to act upon those feelings, should we have them. We do not live as others do. We are married to Christ and thus must abstain from contact between the two sexes. And, it is because I have broken that rule that I am to be sent away."

Guinevere frowned, her brows furrowing together.

"Sent away?"

"Yes. Mother Superior discovered my sins and as punishment I am to be sent back to Rome where I will lock myself away until I can cleanse myself."

"This is why I will not accept your god." Guinevere's harsh tone startled Juliana. "He demands that you give up everything that is human. And, should you simply grant yourself the pleasure of experiencing life then you are punished for something that every human has the right to experience. How can anyone live in such a way?"

"God does not punish." Juliana stated. Her words were softly spoken and she feared that the wind had carried them away before Guinevere could hear them.

"Then why must you be punished for loving a man?" She'd heard after all.

"I…I do not know." Juliana shook her head. The numerous scriptures that she had memorized through the years had fled her mind.

"If you want to be with Galahad, why not leave the church?"

"Because it is my life. It is all I've known since I was a baby."

"Perhaps it's time for a change." The look in Guinevere's eyes sparked something within Juliana. Something that she had long since let go of. Hope.

>>>>>

Well, it's not one of my favorite chapters, but it will do. This was merely a sort of stepping stone for later chapters, so sorry if it's kinda crappy. The whole conversation with Juliana and Guinevere's not very good, then again I am my own worst critic. So please tell me what you thought.

I don't know when I'll update next. I'm gonna be pretty busy with school and helping my brother go out to college and then doing some college tours and stuff. But I will try and update as soon as possible. I promise. And the next chapter will be way better than this one.

Anyways please review and tell me what you thought. The more reviews I get the faster the next chapter will be out. I hope. Lol.

Ps. Sorry that Guinevere was kinda out of character.