A/N: Please read chapter 1 for disclaimer and any warnings !
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Part II - Blood knows best ...
Night had fallen when Tristan finally arrived back at the garrison with Storm. Intense worry over Dagonet's condition combined with the fact that he was physically tired, made him extremely short-tempered and irrational.
After he'd returned from his original scouting mission, Arthur had demanded a full report. Normally the task didn't take long ... This time, Arthur detained him for over an hour, repeatedly grilling him over the non-eventful mission. He'd then been ordered to ride out on another patrol and report back immediately on his return. This took up yet more time, something he was rapidly running out of. It left the vexed Scout beside himself and trembling violently with barely contained fury, especially when he realized Arthur was deliberately preventing him from being with Dagonet.
Eventually, Tristan stormed out of the chamber which held the Round Table, vehemently cursing his commanding officer under his breath in Sarmatian, as he hastily made his way to the knights' quarters. The main reason for his increasing anger was Arthur's warning to stay away from Dagonet. That he was not to see him on his return, but to find something to eat and return immediately to his own quarters. Shocked, the Aorsi could only stare at Arthur in stunned disbelief. Anger and resentment rapidly set in and he wordlessly left the chamber, wild-eyed, pale-faced, agitated and full of aggressive tension. Defiantly, he ignored Arthur's orders and headed for the chamber next to his.
There, he found Bors. The older knight sat quietly - something of a rarity for him - by the huge, fur-covered bed, his anxious gaze firmly fixed upon its fitfully sleeping occupant.
"Finally ! Where the bloody hell have you been, Scout ?" Bors growled softly, his eyes never leaving his dozing cousin. Then, in a slightly more forgiving tone, he added, "He's been asking for you."
Tristan carefully closed the door and moved to stand beside the older knight, his gaze set unwaveringly upon Dagonet. "How is he ?" he asked, his voice gruff with concern.
Hearing the anxiety in the Scout's voice, Bors turned to watch him. The look on his usually good-natured face was thoughtful.
The Aorsi looked like hell; fear and worry clouded his golden eyes and his lean, noble face was pale, making the tattoos on his high cheekbones stand out markedly. Every sleek line and toned muscle of his lean, athletic frame was governed by tension and he appeared to be at the point of exhaustion. It was then Bors came to the sudden realization, it was only sheer stubborn grit and determination that kept Tristan on his feet. The man had been functioning on pure adrenaline alone.
"He's in a lot of pain," Bors replied hoarsely, "but Gawain did a fine job getting shot of those fucking arrows. Dag should heal well. All he needs is rest, a lot of care ... 'n' love." And judging by the younger knight's rare, unguarded expression, Bors shrewdly judged that Dagonet would be on the receiving end of all of those things. Although clearly tired, the Scout was studying his lover with such respect, passion and affection that it left the burly, mouthy fighter with the feeling that he was intruding on something extremely private and intimate ... It was at that exact moment, Bors was truly convinced how deeply the normally secretive Aorsi was in love with his kinsman.
"I don't mean to harp on about it, but what kept you, lad ?" the stocky Roxolani mildly asked, "thought you'd have come by sooner."
Tristan sighed heavily and sat on the edge of the bed. He reached for Dagonet's right hand and held it gently between both of his. The simple gesture brought a change in the slumbering Healer and to the other knights astonishment, he seemed to visibly relax once he felt the Scout's touch. It instantly soothed and comforted him and put him at ease. A slight smile appeared on his beautifully shaped, kissable mouth, that made Tristan catch his breath.
"Bloody Arthur, that's what," Tristan finally replied. "As soon as I got back he sent me out on another damn patrol, even though he knew how worried I was about Dag. Hell, Bors ! He even warned me to stay away from my Wolf ... That I wasn't to see him- "
Bors immediately leapt to his feet. All trace of good humour had left his face and his features darkened with anger. "He did WHAT ? Th-That bloody Roman halfwit knew how badly Dag wanted to see you ... I'll fucking kill him !"
"No, Bors ... Leave it. No point in us both being in trouble. I'm in enough shit as it is for insubordination. Wouldn't want you to suffer because of my temper, my friend. It wouldn't be fair to yo- "
"Wouldn't be fair ?" Bors spluttered, his arms gesticulating wildly, conveying his acute displeasure. "What that idiot's doing isn't fair. To you or Dag ... It's not right, y'daft bugger. 'Specially when him 'n' Lancelot have been regularly fucking over the past few months ... Fucking hypocritical of the bastard, if you ask me- "
"Bors, please ..." Tristan eyed the older warrior through the shock of dark hair which had fallen in front of his eyes.
"Listen, lad ... What Arthur's doing is well out of order. Gods ! Doesn't he realize that keeping you apart could actually set back Dag's recovery ? The bloody fool doesn't know his fucking arse from his fucking elbow !"
Bors' rant coaxed a faint smile of genuine amusement from the Scout. This was far better than Tristan had dared hope for, as he'd been dreading the garrison's prize-fighter finding out the true nature of his relationship with Dagonet. But Bors' sincere acceptance and passionate defence of it had moved the Aorsi deeply. For all of the pugilistic Roxolani's loud bluster and bravado, the man had a big heart and genuinely cared for his fellow knights' happiness and wellbeing.
"Look, Tristan ... I freely admit there are times you can be a right pain in the fucking arse 'n' sometimes, you really piss me off ..." Bors paused and looked slightly sheepish. "But you make my cousin truly happy 'n' I can see you think the world of him, so ... so for what it's worth, you both have my blessing 'n' support ..." Bors grinned and the Scout returned it with gentle smile.
The blessing and support of Dagonet's kinsman was vitally important to Tristan. It was something he'd dreamed of - longed for - yet never believed possible. He glanced down at Dagonet, who now slept peacefully at his side and absently caressed the back of the Healer's hand with his thumb as he tried to find the words to thank Bors. For once, the older man knew exactly what was going through the aloof enigma's mind and grinned at the sight of the tongue-tied Scout.
"Gods ! You don't need to say anything. Just carry on loving my cousin. Treat him well 'n' keep him happy. That's all the thanks I crave, lad ... Right, I'd better go tell Van how the big lug is, or she'll have my hide. By the look of you, don't suppose you've had anything to eat either - I'll get her to prepare something 'n' bring it back for you. Can't have you falling ill, y'daft bugger. Dag needs you to be strong for him ... I need you to be strong for him ..."
Not bothering to wait for a reply, Bors promptly left and closed the door quietly behind him.
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Bors took a slight detour on the way back to the tavern and stopped at the physician's for advice. He knew he'd half-heartedly agreed not to cause any trouble, but Arthur's unreasonable behaviour towards his cousin's relationship with the Scout had made his blood boil.
So, like any responsible, caring relative, he'd thoroughly grilled the physician as to whether any stress or upset could seriously hinder his kinsman's recovery. To Bors' gleeful delight, the man stated vehemently that Dagonet should be kept calm and under no circumstances be upset. That was the moment an adamant Bors came to the decision that if Arthur was determined to separate Dagonet and Tristan, then he was going to do all in his power to prevent the Roman from going anywhere near his beloved young cousin. If anything. Bors was relishing the prospect of telling their "oh-so-mighty" leader to "go and fuck himself" and that - under the physician's advice, of course - he wouldn't be allowed to see Dagonet either !
When he eventually returned to the Healer's quarters, laden with enough food and wine to feed an army, he was met by a sight which brought a huge grin to his face.
Propped up against the pillows, the scruffy, darkly handsome Aorsi lay fast asleep on top of the furs which covered the bed, cradling his half-naked, slumbering lover protectively and tenderly in his arms. Much to Bors' amazement, his kinsman was smiling faintly and looked contented and at peace. Seeing both men in such a vulnerable, intimate moment was enough to convince him that he'd made the right decision to bar Arthur from his kinsman's chamber.
Dagonet and Tristan deserved, and were entitled, to be together. To be left undisturbed. And Bors fully intended for the status quo to remain that way. At all costs ...
A sudden knock on the door broke Bors' train of thought. Frowning, Bors placed the food and wine carefully on the small table in the corner of the room, then moved to open the door. Arthur stood there.
"Yes ?" Bors growled and stared coldly at the Roman commander.
"Dagonet. I've come to see him," Arthur replied and began push his way into the room. Bors instinctively had the door in a vice-like grip and deliberately blocked the other man's path.
"No can do," he began, enjoying the flickering emotions that crossed Arthur Castus' face. Arthur appeared confused and was clearly shocked that he was being refused admittance.
"Bors, I'm your commander and I'm seeing him- "
"'N' I'm his cousin - his blood kin - who knows'n' wants what's best for him," Bors hissed, his grip on the door turning his knuckles white. "You're not seeing him. Right now, you're the last person in this fucking cesspit my cousin needs to see. I've only just got him to sleep, godsdammit ! Dag needs his rest. No one - I mean no one - other than family gets to come in here- "
"Bors !"
"I'm dead serious, Arthur. Anyone else has to go through me. The physician clearly said Dag's to be left in peace ... The way you acted earlier about him 'n' the Scout really upset him 'n' I'm not letting you do that again ... Seeing you will only make things worse."
Clearly annoyed by Bors' stubborn and infuriating behaviour, Arthur demanded, "What did Tristan say to you, Bors ?"
"Fuck all," the Roxolani retorted, feeling what little control he had on his fiery temper begin to slip. "Haven't seen hide nor hair of the man since we got back ... Why ? What have you done ?" Bors smartly turned the tables on Arthur and had no qualms about lying to him.
The Roman did not reply and looked distinctly uncomfortable under the Roxolani's relentless glare.
"Arthur !" Bors spat impatiently.
"I just can't have the pair of them involved like that. I can't. Gawain and Galahad's relationship's bad enough. But Tristan and Dagonet ? No ! It ends now. I will not condone it. They have a duty to fulfil- "
"Bugger the duty ! The pair of them are two of your most loyal knights. 'N' this is how you fucking repay them ? What you're doing is cruel. It'll kill them both. They need to be together. Hell ! Even I can see that. I've never seen Dag happier than he's been over these past few weeks 'n' that's all down to that damn fool Aorsi ..." he paused and agitatedly rubbed his nape. "'N' Tristan ? He needs Dag like I need air to breathe. He only listens to Dagonet 'cause Dag's his rock. His fucking conscience. Bloody hell, Arthur ! Can't you see Dag's the only one capable of keeping our Scout sane ? 'N' that's no bad thing ... If you're so fucking hellbent on splitting them then, then you're a fucking hypocrite !"
"Excuse me ? I'm a what ... ?"
"You 'eard ... A fucking hypocrite. It's wrong to stop two people from being together when you 'n' Poncelot have been fucking for months. No point denying it. I know you are ... We all do. We've known for ages. So don't bother lying to me. I know y'all think I'm stupid, but I'm no fool. Dag 'n' his Scout aren't just bedding each other ... There's more to their relationship than that. A blind man can clearly see they love each other. 'N' in this hell we've been forced to fucking live in, they should be allowed to grab whatever happiness they can find ..."
What Bors said rang true and made a lot of sense, something Arthur found impossible to deny. Knowing how protective Bors was of his cousin, he realized it would be impossible to convince him otherwise, so he turned on his heel and silently left.
Bors drew a long sigh of relief and quickly closed the door. A feeling of incredulity swept over him as the realization that he'd bested Arthur hit him. It made him grin with immense satisfaction. Then, once he was certain that Dagonet and Tristan wouldn't be disturbed, he returned to his family, quietly shutting the door behind him.
T. B. C.