Wow, so it's been awhile since I last updated this story. I apologize profusely for that. Anyways, I want to thank those of you who reviewed last chapter, I don't have time to name you all, but know that I truly appreciate it.

Chapter Twenty-two

Galahad paced in front of Juliana's door, trying to decide whether or not to knock. It had been nearly three days since their argument and neither had yet to try and make amends. The guilt that filled Galahad had intensified over the days, and he felt horrible for making Juliana believe that all he wished was to lie with her.

With a heavy sigh, he raised a fist and knocked soundly upon the wooden door. Nobody answered. Galahad knocked again, his resolve faltering as the door continued to go unanswered. Tentatively, he pushed at the door, it slowly swung open with a slight squeal of protest.

His eyes swept the room, finding it completely empty. Galahad began to worry, his mind ran with thoughts of where Juliana might possibly be. Stepping into the room, Galahad decided to further explore. Perhaps she was in the dressing area and had not heard him. Galahad looked towards the door that led into the dressing and bathing room and found that it was open just enough to see into the other room. He stepped towards the door, his heavy footsteps muffled by the animal skin rug.

A thin stream of candlelight filtered through the partially open door, gently illuminating the small room. As he looked through the crack, Galahad's breath caught in his throat. There, sitting in the wooden tub, sat Juliana, her bare back towards the door and her ivory skin glowing in the candlelight. Her hair tumbled down her back in a mass of red ringlets, the copper curls looking as alluring in the light of the candle as that of the moon. Galahad's memories shifted to the first night that he had seen Juliana in the garden, her hair loose and her skin glowing in the moonlight.

As Juliana washed her skin, Galahad felt his attraction to her growing. Who knew that something as simple as bathing could be so graceful. He continued to watch her, not knowing that what he was doing was wrong. Galahad could not turn his eyes from her, Juliana's body was so beautiful and so…enchanting that he was drawn to her image.

She gently pulled her hair over her left shoulder, revealing the succulent skin of her right shoulder to him. Galahad's heart jumped into his throat. She was such a beautiful woman.

It wasn't until Juliana lifted her body from the tub and wrapped herself in a dressing robe, hiding her beautiful form from his eyes, that Galahad's mind finally returned to him and he swiftly left the room.

Closing the door gently behind him, Galahad leaned up against the polished wood, breathing deeply to try and still his rapidly beating heart. Placing his head in his hand, Galahad wept, his emotions finally becoming too much for him to handle. Had their fight ruined his chances to be with Juliana, the most beautiful woman he had ever known and the only woman he had ever loved.

She stared at her plate, none of the food looking the least bit appetizing. She could feel the bile rising in her throat as she stared down at the hard bread and still bloody meat.

"Juliana, are you all right?" The soft voice of Guinevere came from just behind her. Juliana looked up at the queen, her sad eyes betraying the emotions that ran through her.

Ever since the fight with Galahad, Juliana had been unable to concentrate on anything. And constantly she had a sick feeling in the pit of her stomach.

Is this what I left the Church for? She couldn't help but wonder every time she remembered the pain that coursed through her heart. Is this what I am destined for? To love a man who only wishes to have me in his bed? Deep down Juliana knew that Galahad truly loved her, but whenever he allowed the obviously male side of him to rule over his mind, Juliana couldn't help but think what kind of life they could possibly have together. Surely they both loved each other, but what kind of life would they have together if all they had was love? Galahad shared known of Juliana's beliefs, and she knew, deep in her soul, that a relationship without mutual beliefs could never last.

"Yes," she replied softly, "I'm all right." She turned back to the food that sat before her as Guinevere silently left Juliana's bed chamber, where she had locked herself away after another horrible day of avoiding Galahad.

Oh how she wished it hadn't had to come to this. To find love and then, so swiftly, have it taken away. Was this the way God repaid her for all those years she had devoted to serving Him? Would He be so cruel as to take away the one man that she had ever really cared for?

"Oh Lord," she whispered, "why do you do this to me? Why do you put a man in my life who does not share my love for you? Why do you make me love him so much when I know that he does not believe in you?"

Slowly, the tears fell down her face; falling from her chin onto the plate that sat before her. Juliana, so focused on her earnest prayer, did not hear the soft knock on her door.

"Lord, I have done nothing but serve you diligently, I have loved you with all of my heart and yet you do this to me." The tears fell in rapid succession as her prayer became more urgent. "I care for Galahad more than I have ever cared for anyone else in my life. Why do you let me love him so?"

Juliana lifted her face heavenward, hoping that if she directed her cry straight at God that He would hear her.

"I love him, Lord, and yet you will not let us be as one! You placed Galahad in my life and then you take him away again! Why, God, why are you so cruel to me when I have done nothing but serve you with all of my heart?"

Juliana knelt on the floor, weeping as she poured her heart out to God, unaware of the man that stood in the doorway behind her.

The overpowering scent of hay and horses filled the stable where Galahad stood, gently petting the nose of his own steed. He had come here to clear his head of all the conflicting thoughts that ran through his mind. But his thoughts would not be controlled; they would not conform to any one way of thinking.

He sighed and hung his head, only to have the black mare nudge him with her snout.

"Why is love so confusing?" He asked the mare, who snorted and tossed her head. He sighed and gently rubbed her nose as he continued to talk to himself.

"If only Juliana would understand that I am a man, I have needs that will not be denied. I love her, and I do not wish to hurt her, but she makes my blood boil with just the smallest look." Galahad shook his head.

"If only it weren't for her damned piousness!" He cried. "Then everything would be fine."

"Galahad!" Gawain's voice came from the stable's entrance. Galahad turned to face his old friend, only to have something hard hit against his jaw.

Galahad fell to the ground, pushed down from the force of the blow. He held his jaw, gently rubbing it as he slowly, carefully opened his mouth to make sure that nothing was broken.

"What the hell was that for?" He shouted, looking up at Gawain, who towered over him, a fuming look in his eyes.

"You don't deserve her." Gawain replied mysteriously before turning on his heel and leaving the stable.

Sorry it was so short you guys. Please review and let me know what you thought. I hope that I can update again soon, but with school and everything I can't make any guarantees. Also, I know that the first scene was kinda lame...sorry 'bout that, but I could NOT figure out how to start this chapter so I just kinda wrote it and...well I'm not too happy with it. Okay, I'm going to stop typing this now and go and get started on the next chapter. Until next time...Ciao :)