A/N – same as previous chapter, only I think this one was even harder to get right.

Chapter 16 - Rumours and Revelations Part 3

Tayla sat on her bed, tears streaming down her face, as the full impact of the situation sank in. If it was true, her parents (perhaps though it had only been her mother) had lied to her her entire life. She had a brother who actually cared, not just ones who occasionally indulged her and thought her nothing more than a pretty face, and her lifeline away from the princes who looked at her as a prize, a way to defeat the other, was gone. She wouldn't be able to marry Arthur to get away from them. She didn't know if she could find someone else before her father would give into the pressure. Even if he had promised her he wouldn't, if it came down to giving her up or saving Dover from war, the promise wouldn't matter in the end. King Henry wasn't that strong.

She didn't know who she was any more. Did she belong to Dover or Camelot. She found it highly unlikely that Uther would claim her as his own. Though if he did, she knew she would be safe once again. There was no way the two fools would be that stupid as to try and threaten Camelot with war. Who was she now?

Tayla heard the door open quietly, footsteps coming her way, but didn't turn around. She knew who it was. She could feel his presence, that comforting peace that he always brought with him. He sat down carefully on the bed next to her, close enough that she could feel the heat of his body against her arm.

"My Lady, can I do anything?" he said, his voice so gentle, so caring. If only it could be, I would be so happy with him.

Tayla looked at him, she saw the compassion in his eyes, it was one of the many things she loved about him.

"I do not know what I feel or what to do Tristan. My world feels like it is falling apart and there is nothing I can do to stop it," her voice barely a whisper by the time she finished.

He saw the pain, the confusion, the anger and distress in her eyes. He wanted to help but didn't know if he could

"There is a lot to take in. You dreamt of marrying him, this changes things," Tristan said gently.

Tayla looked at him and shook her head. No, she hadn't dreamt about marrying Arthur. She couldn't let him think that.

"No, not him. Only you," Tayla whispered. She felt relief that he would finally know how she felt. Because right now, there had been too many lies and she couldn't bear any more.

Tristan felt like his heart leapt in his chest at her words. It was the first time she had spoken of her feelings for him. In his heart, he had always hoped she loved him, but circumstances never allowed either of them to speak of it. His eyes locked with hers and he saw the truth. She did love him. And, even though nothing could come of it, he desperately wanted a moment of time, a moment where they could just be together. He knew it couldn't last, she had a duty to marry for the better of her people. But he could give her this moment, one where she would know she was loved.

Tristan turned his body torward her and slipped his hand behind her neck, his gaze still locked with hers. As he pulled her gently toward him, he glanced down at her lips and back to her eyes. When their lips were almost touching, he whispered her name. Not Princess, not my Lady, but Tayla.

Her heart melted at the sound of her name on his lips. Her body melted into his kiss. She responded in a way she had never dreamed she could. Three years since she had first laid eyes on him. Three years since she felt the first stirring of love in her heart for him. Three years of trying to hide her feelings. He was the only one she ever wanted. She gave him everything with that kiss. If it was the only one they were to have, she wouldn't hold back. She would cherish this forever, for she knew as well as he, that this moment was all they could have. When Tristan finally pulled back and she opened her eyes, their breathing was ragged and heavy. Tayla could see the love he felt for her shining in his eyes. For once he wasn't trying to hide it from her. Neither was she.

"Tristan," she whispered.

"I am not going anywhere. I will always be with you," Tristan said, his voice still heavy with emotion.

"One day, you will leave. When I marry someone else, I can not expect you to stay with me then," Tayla said, tears in her eyes and pain in her voice.

No, he knew he would not leave. She was the reason his heart beat in his chest, she was the air that he breathed, his reason to fight so hard in battle - because he couldn't bear to leave her. If the only thing he could do for her was to protect her, he would willingly give up everything else. That would be enough because, quite simply, he couldn't live without her in his life. This had nothing to do with duty, or oath. It had to do with love.

"Always with you," Tristan promised her, breaking her heart a little. Because Tayla knew how much it would hurt him to see her with someone else. Because she knew she wasn't strong enough to send him away, which meant he would stay and he would get hurt. Tears flowed down her cheeks again.

"I am so sorry," Tayla whispered to him, "I..." She was interrupted by a knock on the door. Inwardly she groaned. No, not now, there is so much more to say to him. Tristan stood and went to answer the door.

"My Lord," Tayla heard Merlin's voice say, "The Princess' parents have arrived. They will be here shortly. I thought she may need some time to prepare." Tayla felt her anger at her mother build again, she wasn't yet sure what she felt for her father. She took a calming breath and wondered if she could ask Tristan to stay with them whilst they spoke. When he was by her side, she was much calmer. She doubted that would be a good idea though, as much as she wanted him by her side, she needed to face them alone.

"Thank you Merlin, I will let her know," Tristan replied.

"My Lord?" asked Merlin. Tayla could hear sincere concern in Merlin's voice and it warmed her heart that he cared for her, someone he had known barely a week.

"Yes, Merlin?" Tristan replied, also seeing the concern in the young servant's eyes.

"I hope she will be alright."

"So do I Merlin. Thank you." Tristan closed the door and then turned to her. He saw on her face that she had heard. He walked over to her.

"Tristan, I do not think I am ready for this. What do I say to them?" Tristan slipped his arms around her, pulling her close.

"Whatever you want my Lady. I will make sure no one interrupts or hears what you have to say." Tristan felt her take a deep steadying breath, and pulling back, he noted the calming of her eyes.

"Thank you Tristan. I do not know what I would do without you," Tayla said, a sad smile on her face.

"I hope you will never have to find out, my Lady." He returned her smile, and pulled away as there was another knock on the door. She felt lost without his touch.

"Ready?" Tristan asked, standing by the door, waiting to open it when she said.

"No, but let them in anyway," Tayla replied. Tristan nodded and opened the door.

"Tayla, my darling. It is so good to see you safe and well. We were so worried," Queen Isobel said as she entered the room. Isobel walked over and hugged her daughter. Tayla went through the motions. Her mother pulled back and looked at her.

"Why darling, you have been crying. What is wrong?" Isobel turned back to look at Tristan, a frown forming on her face. "Has your bodyguard ..."

"No Mother, unlike you, Tristan has done nothing he shouldn't have." Tayla looked up at him, she saw a flash of heat in his eyes, one she was sure was present in hers as they both remembered their kiss.

"Tristan, thank you. I need to speak to my parents alone now," Tayla said to him.

"Of course my Lady, I will be outside, as promised," Tristan replied.

Tayla nodded, a gentle smile on her face, knowing he would still be protecting her, even if it was from outside.

"Tayla, what is it?" asked her father, King Henry, concerned.

"Mother, I need the truth. Did you ...Did you have a relationship with Uther?" Tayla asked, doing her best to keep the emotion out of her voice.

Her mother glanced over at her father, before looking back at her. Tayla could easily read the truth on her mother's face but she need to hear the words.

"The truth mother, nothing but the truth. Is Uther my father?" Tayla snapped, her fragile hold on her emotions breaking at her mother's look.

"Yes," Isobel said simply. Tayla felt her anger grow. She stepped away from her mother, afraid she might strike out like she had at Uther earlier.

"How could you do this to Father? How could you betray him?" Tayla asked, looking back between the two of them.

"I didn't betray him, your father knows," Isobel replied, calmly. It seemed like this hadn't fazed her at all.

Tayla felt faint. She reached for a chair to steady herself.

"Father?" she asked him. He looked sadly at her.

"Yes my child, I knew." Tayla froze at the word child. She wasn't his. She couldn't understand. He knew, they both knew and they never said anything.

"Why? How could...?" Tayla couldn't get the words to come out properly. Her world was shattering, her anger and confusion building.

"It is a long story." said her mother.

"Then make is short," Tayla said sharply to her mother.

Isobel nodded, and started speaking. The more she spoke the more the anger in Tayla surged. The betrayal, the lies, the deceptions. She couldn't believe what she was hearing. How could they?

By the time her mother had finished, Tayla was shaking. She stared at her mother, did she even know this woman?

"My dear," Isobel said, "Your eyes are on fire. Perhaps you should calm down."

At that, Tayla fled.

A/N – so how were they?