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Chapter Twenty- three

Staring into the still water at the bruise that highlighted his dark beard, Galahad gently rubbed his jaw. Even after a day, the pain still pounded inside his head. With a growl, Galahad punched at the lake, distorting his image.

You don't deserve her. What had Gawain meant by that cryptic remark? Could he have been speaking of Juliana? No, of course not. After all, why would Gawain care about Juliana? She was nothing more than a handmaid who had once been a nun. No, Gawain must have been speaking of Zephaniah. She was the only woman that Gawain possibly could have been speaking of. She was the only woman that would have drawn his attention. Gawain cared not for pious women; he cared only for the women that could warm his bed.

But why would Gawain be thinking of Zephaniah? Surely he knew all the troubles that the woman had caused Galahad.

Falling onto the soft grass, Galahad dropped his head in his hands. It was all just too much for him. There were too many things flowing through his mind at once. He could not process them all.

You don't deserve her. The words echoed in Galahad's mind. Even if Gawain hadn't been speaking of Juliana, Galahad still thought of her as the words attacked him. It was true he didn't deserve Juliana. She was good and kind and everything pure, while he was nothing more than a vile man who wanted her all to himself.

But she said she loved you. The small voice in the back of his mind fought to make itself heard over the stronger, more forceful words. Why would she lie about loving you?

"Yes, why indeed?" Galahad muttered as he lay back in the grass and stared up at the clear blue sky. He searched for the answer in the wisps of clouds that scurried across his vision. But no answer was to be found.

With an exasperated sigh, Galahad rubbed a weary hand across his face, flinching as his fingers probed the bruise.

The bruise; that was all it took for Galahad's thoughts to once again return to chasing each other around in his mind.

She sat, mending in hand, staring out the drawing room window. All around her, Guinevere's other maids filled the room with their idle gossip. However, Juliana could not concentrate on anything they said. Her mind was preoccupied with things of a much more serious nature.

Why had Galahad been avoiding her? It had been nearly a week and she had not seen him at all, except for when she served in the Great Hall during meals. And even then his gaze avoided hers. Or was it that her gaze avoided his? Juliana had no way of knowing anymore whom avoided whom. It had all become one giant game of ring-around-the-rosy. They would circle each other, but neither would make the first move.

Well no more, Juliana's mind cried. I will stand for this no longer. If he does not approach me tonight, then I will approach him.

With her mind made up, and her resolve set, Juliana turned from the window and tried to lose herself in the chatter going on around her.

The intimate setting of the room soothed Juliana as she stood behind Guinevere's seat at the round table. At the other side of the room, seated beside Bors, Juliana could see Galahad. He was involved in an intense discussion with the stockier man, his eyes flashing passionately as he argued his side. Juliana wished that those eyes would look at her, but alas, he kept his attention stubbornly away from her.

With a sigh, Juliana dropped her gaze to the stone floor. It seemed as if she would need to take matters into her own hands. Resigned to what must be done, Juliana prepared herself to confront Galahad as soon as the meal was over.

He knew she was watching. He would have known it even if he were not watching her out of the corner of his own eyes. Her very presence was intoxicating and it was all Galahad could do to keep his attention focused on Bors and their discussion. But it was becoming increasingly difficult for Galahad to concentrate with Juliana looking so beautiful.

Her long hair fell down her back in its customary braid, the rich copper color catching in the torchlight like a brilliant flame. She wore a simple dress the color of the pine trees that still bore their needles even with the onset of winter. Her pale skin was no longer as creamy as it once was. Instead, her skin now shone with the healthy glow attributed to outside labor.

Galahad had never been drawn to a woman the way he was to Juliana. If only he could overcome his stubbornness and apologize to her.

All he wanted was for things to be back to the way they were on that glorious night when they had confessed their love for each other. Why couldn't things be like that again?

With a sad shake of his head, Galahad forced himself to concentrate on what Bors was saying.

He left the hall before Guinevere dismissed Juliana for the night. She watched him leave; watched the opportunity to make things right slip between her fingers. Where would she find him this night? Between the sheets with that whore he insisted on keeping company with? Or would he be at the tavern, drinking away his troubles before going to meet his harlot? Either way, Juliana knew that her chance to talk with him that night was gone. Wherever it was that Galahad went, Juliana was certain not to follow. For where else would he go but to some place of sin.

When Guinevere finally released Juliana, the young woman walked numbly down the corridors towards her apartment. Her eyes watched the stone floor pass beneath her as her thoughts wandered to what entertainment Galahad would be finding that night. She dared not dwell on such thoughts, though; as she knew they would only lead her mind to a troubled place. However, that would not stop her imagination (which Mother Superior had always said was far too active) from going to places Juliana wished it not to go. As she tried to clear the unsettling images from her mind, Juliana felt the desperate need for fresh air. She turned in the opposite direction of her rooms and headed, instead, towards the garden.

As she emerged in the moonlight, Juliana felt hot tears begin to burn at the back of her eyes. This was the place where everything had begun; this was where she had first laid eyes upon Galahad and where they had confessed their love. This place would not offer her the solace she wished for.

Choking back a sob, Juliana spun around, ready to flee to her apartment. But a body stood between her and the exit.

Sorry it's kinda short, but I hope you guys liked it anyways. Please review and let me know what you thought!