Chapter 18[Sunrise]
Sol's first rays peeked over the eastern horizon. Residents both in the walled city and surrounding countryside gathered their offerings and went to complete their remembrance activities. Camelot's sentries swapped out their numbers sending some to bed while others took their places.
Even though the calendar had turned to the new year, lingering affairs pressed on….
[Physicians' Chambers]
Within the chamber, Silence hung over everything akin to the fog outside. A few containers and herbal containers remained strewn across the work table waiting for use. All flames had been extinguished. Gaius snoozed lightly on his cot. Britomart resisted Slumber's call for her part. Her eyes fought to remain open. She inspected Gawain's face. She allowed herself a yawn and stretched her arms skyward. "You'll need some more soon enough."
Gawain winced. "B…Brit?" He blinked several times.
"Sir Gawain!" Relief flooded through her. "Do you know how you worried us?" She sat down next to him. "You nearly got yourself into trouble."
"Yeah." He rubbed his forehead. "Wow. What a hangover. I…."
"You had more than that." She put her hands on his shoulders. She looked deeply into his eyes. "You were reliving your childhood trauma. Meleagant brought that out."
"Surprised he stopped with that." Gawain puzzled over that fact. "It's jumbled. Swear that I heard some fighting or something outside."
"Six Cawdorian knights came after you. We stopped them." She smirked at him.
He winced. "And let me guess, you were in on it?"
"Sir Ywain, King Percival and Malodius were with me." She measured out more tea into the filter. Then she started heating another cup of water on the table. "Remember you're not alone. You're never alone."
"Yeah…yeah I got it." He looked around the chamber. "Gaius let you take over?"
"He needed a nap. I was up anyhow. I had to check on the Princess and Merlin as well," she explained half-honestly. While she had made a trip upstairs, she'd spent most of the night sitting guard over him. "You just stay right there and rest. I'll have some more tea for you."
"That vile crap?" He made a face.
"It does when mixed with excessive amounts of ale, you Oaf," she pointed out.
He rolled his eyes. "And now starts the lecture."
"Aye. Now it starts! You don't have to charge off or drink your problems away or whatever!" Seeing him stiffen up, she put her hands up. "Just remember you can ask." She straightened his hair.
"I got it." Despite his bravado, he smiled for her benefit. "So what about Merlin? Big Red hit him hard last night."
"He's recovering. Priestess Freya saw to his side. Princess Mithian has been with Merlin all night," she reported. She poured the tea. "Let that cool." She walked over to Gaius and rubbed him gently. "Master Gaius?"
"Hmmm?" The older man stirred and opened his eyes. "Britomart? What is it? Is there progress?"
"The Cabbage Head's eyes are open. He seems to have his senses back." She glanced back at the knight with a bit of Mirth's gentle glow in her eyes.
Gawain frowned. His inner child railed against the attention. Still his heart warmed to it. He had to admit the support was nice even if he wasn't used to letting it happen.
Gaius sighed at her assessment. He slowly rose and made his way to Gawain's side. "Good morning." He glanced into the irreverent knight's eyes. "It seems you're back."
"Yeah well her preening and spying over me are giving me hives!" Gawain complained.
"Be fortunate that she was doing that last night. You'd be much worse for wear this morning if not dead," Gaius informed him. "Did she tell you?"
"Yeah. The crimson twerps ganged up on me." Gawain drank the tea enduring its bitter taste in the process. "So much for that Big Red Can. Maybe ol' Arthur can actually stand up to him?"
"There's going to be something this morning. Princess Mithian and King Rodor will be there with the other rulers," she told him. "You are going to stay right here and rest."
"Whatever, Mother. Nag. Nag. Nag." Gawain made a gagging noise before closing his eyes again.
She ground her teeth. "And I'm not stopping either. Maybe you can watch him, Master Gaius? I need some sleep. Dealing with a certain Muttonhead is exhausting!" With that, she headed for the back room to borrow Merlin's bed for a nap.
"Listening to her is tiring. Gripe. Gripe. Gripe," Gawain retorted.
"I HEARD THAT!" she yelled back before shutting the door.
Gaius coughed. He wondered just how he'd stand the constant bantering and bickering. Still, on the other hand, he marveled how the red headed healer was making headway with the man-child on his patient's cot.
Seemed that miracles could happen after all…..