A/N: Please read chapter 1 for disclaimer and any warnings !

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Part III - Of comfort and confession ...

Although Bors had tried his damnedest to keep things quiet, Tristan was roused from his much needed rest at the start of the volatile Roxolani's "bugger the duty" tirade.

The older knight's passionate and eloquent defence of his quiet, gentle cousin's relationship with the mercurial Scout had stunned Tristan ... especially when he discovered who was on the receiving end of the burly warrior's wrath. Bors had proved himself to be a stalwart friend and staunch ally and the Aorsi's respect for the man had increased tenfold.

When Bors finally left, Tristan carefully eased himself off the bed so as not to disturb Dagonet. Although asleep, the older man appeared calmer and much improved. He glanced down at the scarred, ruggedly attractive, gentle giant and felt his heart skip a beat. He loved Dagonet with every fibre of his being and just thinking of how close he came to losing his lover made his blood run cold ...

It had been a long day and by now the Aorsi was starving. He swiftly, yet carefully, ate the bread, meat and fruit provided by Vanora, with obvious relish before silently slipping out of the chamber to relieve and wash himself. He'd hoped to return unnoticed, but to his dismay when he re-entered the Healer's quarters, he found his lover half-awake and extremely agitated. Dagonet's beautiful silver-grey eyes were stormy with worry and confusion. Yet, as soon as he laid eyes upon his errant Scout, he visibly relaxed.

"Tristan ... ?"

Tristan hurriedly removed his olive-green, suede tunic and his undershirt. Then clad in just snug, form-fitting calf-skin breeches, he silently approached the bed.

"Shh ... Rest, Dag. I'm back ... " he spoke softly, his husky voice pitched at the same soothing tone he used to comfort both his destrier and hawk when they were distressed. "You're weary, my brave Wolf ... Go back to sleep. I'll take care of you, dearest one ..."

"You're late," the tall knight murmured drowsily, watching Tristan through heavy-lidded eyes.

Tristan calmly slid under the blanket and carefully curled his lithe body protectively around the injured man, successfully avoiding his wounds. "I know and I'm sorry, Dag ... but I'm here now and that's all that matters."

Dagonet sighed gently and reached for Tristan's hand, his long, callused fingers interlacing with his Scout's. "I'm glad. I couldn't rest 'til I knew you were back, safe and well ... I, I missed you, my Scout."

Tristan smiled, then lightly grazed his lips against the other man's right temple. "I love you, Dagonet," he confessed simply. "Do you honestly think I'd willingly allow anyone or anything to keep us apart ?"

The Healer slowly turned to look at him and studied the silent killer's face carefully and saw only truth shining in his enigmatic, golden eyes. "So, you love me ?" A wry grin graced his ruggedly attractive countenance as Tristan, feeling uncomfortably sheepish, met his mild, steady gaze.

"No, Dag ..." Tristan paused, then felt the Roxolani's warm, virile body tense in fear of rejection. Tristan sighed gently and moved closer to embrace him. "Oh, Dag, you fool, I don't just love you ... I-I'm ... Fuck ! I'm in love with you, man ... Do you understand what I'm saying ?"

Wide-eyed and confused, the Healer could only stare incredulously at him. Finally, he rasped, "Y-You're in love with me ?"

"What's not to love ?" Tristan countered huskily, his austere, noble features softening as he affectionately studied his dazed lover. He reached out a hand and caressed Dagonet's stubbled jaw. "You're everything to me ... and to think how fucking close I came to losing you today. I truly thought my heart was breaking when you fell, Dag. Felt so damn helpless and there was nothing I could do to fucking stop ... Swear to me you'll never do anything like that again ... Promise me, Dag !"

The strapping Roxolani heard the Aorsi's voice break and was shocked to see the striking, honey-hued eyes glistening brightly with unshed tears. His composed, lion-hearted Scout was distraught and vulnerable because of him ... Because of his reckless actions ...

"I swear, Tris, on my life, I never meant to hurt you ... But I couldn't leave the Whelp at the not-so-tender mercies of those damned Woads. Not when they deliberately ambushed and shot his horse down from under him. Galahad's my friend. My little brother. In all good conscience, I wouldn't have been able to live with myself if we'd lost him ... if he'd died and I'd been able to save him. And I'd never be able to look Gawain in the eye if I had ... My only regret is that I didn't think things through properly ... That my actions caused you so much pain ..."

"No, you bloody fool, you didn't ! We only just found each other and you nearly got yourself fucking killed !" Dagonet couldn't fail to hear the growing hysteria in his Scout's faintly accented voice and quickly drew the younger knight close to him, ignoring the dull, painful ache in his flank caused by the sudden movement.

"Shh, my fiesty hawk," he murmured and lowered his head to lightly brush his lips against Tristan's forehead. "I'm still here, aren't I ? Thanks to you, Bors and Gawain. You're not getting rid of me that easily, not when I feel the same way about yo- "

"Should bloody well think so," Tristan muttered, chewing his lower lip uneasily.

"I'm sorry, Tris ... Forgive me ... ?"

Tristan slowly raised his head and gazed thoughtfully at his beloved, repentant Healer through his wild fringe of hair, then unexpectedly, grinned. "There's nothing to forgive, my reckless Wolf. You know damn well that I can never lie to you or hold anything against you- "

Sighing, Dagonet idly caressed Tristan's warm, tautly muscled abdomen. "Tris, I don't deserve you. Or your love, even though I return it wholeheartedly. I belong to you, Scout. No one else."

The candid admission left the Aorsi stunned. Yet, being a brutally honest man, he couldn't deny how pleased the Roxolani's confession made him. "I'm yours, Dag. Yours alone ... Don't think I'll ever want or care for anyone as much as I do for you. No one else compares to you ... don't even come close. "

Dagonet's fingertips lightly skimmed Tristan's cheekbones before leisurely roaming across his neatly trimmed, greying beard and tilting up his chin so that he could tenderly kiss the younger man's tempting lips.

Tristan relaxed competely and surrendered himself entirely to Dagonet's addictive touch. It was only when his right arm brushed against the bandages around the Healer's trim waist that he abruptly came to his senses and reluctantly broke the kiss. The older warrior watched him through hooded, smokily seductive eyes before smiling shyly at him. Tristan steadily held his gaze, his liquid gold eyes burning with passion. And love.

"Behave, Dag !" he growled huskily, his voice sending a shiver of desire through the scarred, cropped-haired Roxolani's powerful frame. "You need to rest. I need you to rest ... and heal quickly. For your sake and the sake of my own sanity. Wanting you so badly and not being able to do anything about it while you're hurt, is slowly killing me ..."

Dagonet laughed softly. "You have a one-track mind, Scout- "

"Well, it's your damn fault," Tristan grumbled good-naturedly. "I keep thinking about you all the time. Just can't fucking stop. Can't help it."

"Neither can I ... Neither can I ..." the tall Sarmatian giant shyly admitted, turning carefully to lie on his uninjured side to face Tristan, draping his left forearm with a gentle possessiveness on the Aorsi's smooth, sleekly muscled flank. "I swear, you'll drive me to insanity, little one ..." He grinned faintly as Tristan raised an eyebrow at his murmured endearment. "You irritate, anger and frustrate me like no one else can, yet ... I'm never happier than when I'm with you. You're the best thing that's ever happened to me, Tris and I love you more tha- "

Tristan silenced him with a sweet, tender, lingering kiss, then slowly drew back to lightly rest his forehead against Dagonet's. He knew his Healer was an intensely private man who guarded his emotions fiercely. It had taken a lot for him to reveal his feelings so honestly. Leaving himself defenceless. And so vulnerable. Up close, Tristan clearly appreciated how tired Dagonet appeared. He was still extremely pale and was fighting like the very devil to keep his glittering, silver eyes open. Carefully, the solitary Aorsi cushioned Dagonet's head upon his chest and smiled faintly with genuine happiness.

"Sleep, my love," he murmured. "You need to rest. I won't leave you, I swear, Dag ... I'll stay with you. For as long as you want me to."

With a smile that mirrored his much loved Scout's, Dagonet could only nod and fell into a deep and restful sleep in the haven of Tristan's embrace.

Finis