Chapter 26
I felt warm and safe. I felt like nothing in the world could harm me. As I emerged slowly from the haze of sleep I began to realize other things, such as that the reason that I felt warm was that I was wrapped in a cloak which I did not recognize as my own, I did not care: after feeling cold and miserable, I welcomed the warmth that the cloak provided.
As I leaned further into its warmth, I began to take in the scent which it gave off, and found that it was the scent of leather and spices, a scent that I would recognize anywhere; it was the scent of Gawain.
After realizing this, I snuggled even further into the cloak.
At the same time I began to realize other things, such as that I was in a wagon, and that there was a figure hunched over in what looked like a very uncomfortable position. On closer inspection I could see that it was in fact Gawain who was sleeping.
I reached over to him, to caress his hand which was just in range of my arm. The gentle caress awoke Gawain, who looked up startled and searched around the wagon to find who was disturbing his peace, only find that I had woken.
Gawain's response was almost instantaneous: he immediately reached over to gather me into his arms.
I was still weak from the cold ice and wind, and was only able to return his hug weakly.
"I was afraid that I had lost you," he breathed into my ear and ever so gently kissed it. Although his beard tickled me, I still welcomed the gesture with open arms.
"Easy! Don't worry, I am not going anywhere," I reassured him as I gently rubbed his back.
Suddenly I felt something wet hit my neck, and realizing that he was actually weeping. In an attempt to comfort him I did the only thing that I could do. I began, gently, slowly, to place loving kisses on his neck, and continued to rub his back in slow circles. We lay like that for a long time in each others arms. And then suddenly Gawain lifted his head and although his face was tearstained, I found that I actually did not care, and loved him all the more for showing his emotions.
Gawain held my gaze for a while before he leaned down and placed a deep and passionate kiss on my lips. His tongue stroked my lips and I did not hesitate to open my mouth and grant him access. The feel of his warm tongue was more then I could take and with a soft moan I grabbed hold of the back of his head and pulled him closer.
It was not until we finally parted that I felt the weariness of the ordeal on the ice, and my eyes began to get heavy. Before I was able to go back to sleep I saw that Gawain had gotten up and was moving back to his vigil.
"Gawain!" I called out quietly. When he turned around to look at me I asked him, "Please stay with me?"He nodded and, walking back to my side, he lay down behind me and wrapped me in his warm embrace.
As we lay there I noticed that there was a much larger figure lying near us, together with a much smaller figure. I suppose Gawain noticed my confusion, because he placed a small kiss on my ear and whispered: "Dag and Luthien. You saved them."
I nodded and snuggled closer to Gawain; he in turn did the same and soon I had fallen into a deep sleep, while Gawain looked over us.