Amaya looked up as Maia walked in, groaning softly as she rubbed her belly. "Are you sick too?" She nodded her head then snuggled close to Amaya, sliding under the covers of her bed as the morning daylight shone through the cracks of Amaya's shutters.
"I feel so ill." Maia murmured. "And Galahad went out patrolling early this morning and is not yet back, so I thought I would throw myself upon your hospitality." Amaya chuckled, holding Maia to her gently.
"Perhaps there is a sickness going around." She murmured but then frowned, thinking deeply. Suddenly she looked down to Maia. "Mai, when was the last time you bled?"
"Oh, not for a month. I am a little late this time around. Why? Does that mean something?" She asked innocently, blinking in confusion. "What's wrong with me?" Amaya beamed suddenly.
"I think you might be with child." Maia gasped, shooting upright then looked down to her flat stomach in shock.
"A child?" She whispered then smiled broadly, a radiant light shining from her as she flung her arms around Amaya's neck. "I'm with child! Oh Galahad will be so happy, we're going to have a baby Amaya! You'll be an aunt!" Amaya laughed then suddenly stopped, her face falling in shock. "What? What is it?" Maia then gasped. "Are you with child too?"
"I…I can't be. They took that away from me, I'm barren. I must be…they said I could never have children." Amaya whispered then swallowed, resting a hand to her stomach. Her magic ebbed forwards and she rubbed smooth circles, allowing her magic to feed her back information.
In her mind she saw black but when a wave of her light magic shone through, a tiny spark of life came into view and the ball of light throbbed within her womb, confident and sure. Amaya turned her wide eyes to Maia then touched her stomach, the warmth of her magic spreading through Maia until she saw again the tiny ball of life within her. "I'm with child!" Amaya cried aloud, tears rising to her eyes as she shook like a lead. "I'm…I'm going to have a child!"
"Ssh, it's alright. It is not so bad." Maia whispered to her. "You will be a good mother, a great one, do not be sad…"
"Sad? I'm thrilled!" Amaya declared, smiling broadly as she continued to cry then swept Maia up into her arms, pulling her from her bed to spin around the room with her, Demon leaping up and barking with a wag of his tail. "I never thought I would want a son or daughter until they took the choice from me! I'm going to be a mother! We're going to be mothers!" Maia laughed, flinging her arms around Amaya's neck, joining with her joyous laughter.
"Your magic must have healed you! Oh Maya, this is the happiest day of my life!" Suddenly they heard the call of horses and hooves clattering into the yard. Maia gasped then looked to Amaya who beamed.
"Go! Go tell your husband!" Maia squealed then ran from the room, her blue dress flying through the door before it was whisked away by the excited woman. Turning to her wardrobe Amaya threw on a plain brown dress so that she could go out in search of Tristan. Demon bounded at her side as she raced for the stables.
She stopped in the courtyard to grin as Galahad lifted Maia of the ground and spun around with her, the others giving their hearty congratulations as Amaya slipped past them then looked to Tristan's horse's stall to find it empty. "Arluin! Come my friend, we are riding." Amaya called gently, throwing on her horse's tack then rode out of the stables as the others carried Maia and Galahad inside on their shoulders, cheering and singing so Amaya took their diverted attention as a chance to ride out without them noticing.
She wanted Tristan to know before the others, her excitement and anticipation was almost unbearable as she wanted to simply scream the words aloud. Arluin cantered evenly out of the city, her eyes scanning the roads before she aimed for the woods, knowing that the most likely path he would have taken would be the main road before branching off into the trees.
When a beautiful call sounded from above Amaya looked up then pulled Arluin up short, halting him as she lifted her arm and let the hawk land there, gracefully sweeping forwards. "Hello my beauty, where is your master? Where is Tristan? I have the most wonderful news to tell him!" Though inside, Amaya began to worry. What if he was not interested in having children? Would he be irritated? See it as a needless responsibility?
Pushing these nervous thoughts aside she watched the hawk take off then glide back out of the woods towards the rolling hills and grassy plains so Amaya turned Arluin around and followed, trusting the hawk's eyes.
Amaya felt her heart pounding in her chest as they cantered, Arluin's powerful strides carrying her out of the trees and eastward towards the sun which had risen but still left a pretty hue of pastel colours in the sky. It was chilly as it was only just late April but spring was definitely coming. The grass was now dry from the morning dew and the crisp air brought the fresh scent of pine from the trees.
When a lone rider came into sight, trotting over the rise Amaya gasped then called out to Tristan, who lifted his head at Amaya's call. He frowned, cocking his head to the side as the woman thundered towards him. He pulled up his horse, letting her come to him but when she flung herself from her saddle and collided with him, he grunted then quickly wrapped his arms around her to protect Amaya from the fall.
They rolled uncontrollably down the hill, wrapped up in one another as the breath was knocked from Tristan's lungs and he lay winded for a moment as Amaya pushed him onto his back then planted her hands firmly either side of his face, beaming down at him. "I'm with child!" She exclaimed and shock instantly enveloped Tristan, staring up at her as if she had gone mad. "I'm with child, Tristan, I'm going to have a baby!"
He continued to stare up at her, dumbstruck. Tristan could not understand, Amaya had said they had made her barren. How could it be possible? Obviously reading the question in his eyes, Amaya explained. "My magic must have healed me without me knowing. I'm certain, Tristan, it is why I have been ill and so tired, I am pregnant!" Suddenly her face fell, seeing Tristan's blank look. "Is it not what you want?"
Without a word Tristan flipped Amaya onto her back, arm curled under her arm as his hand gripped her head gently, the other resting on her hip but slowly he slid it to press against her stomach lightly, where she now carried a child within her.
"I thought you did not want children." Her face remained disheartened and she lowered her eyes. Tristan cursed, once again he said the wrong thing.
"I lied to myself until I could believe it." Amaya replied quietly, trembling inside. "Though I would not give any son of mine to Rome, I have always wanted to be a mother. To be more than just a maid or a warrior. I wanted something normal for myself, just for once." She turned her face away from him. "If you do not want this then I shall not make you commit to…" He gripped her chin and turned her face back to his, kissing her firmly to silence her words.
"Maya," he murmured gently, shifting slightly to take some of his weight from her. "I am proud to call you the mother of my children." Children. He had said children. Amaya stared up at him in slight astonishment and confusion.
"You want children?" He furrowed his brow slightly.
"I have never been able to imagine myself with a child but I'm sure you will teach me how to be a good father." Amaya smiled brightly then kissed him, wrapping her arms tightly around him as he answered her lips' caress carefully, as if she were made of fragile glass.
"You have given me a gift, Tristan." Amaya whispered to him as he stroked her hair. "And I'll thank you forever for it."
"As will I." He answered lowly, kissing the side of her face before pulling back and frowning. "Are you well? Do you need anything? Shall I ask Dagonet to see to you?" Amaya laughed.
"Stop fussing, it's still early." She rolled her eyes at him but he gave her a serious look. "Tristan, it may be our first child but I know what to do. I saw many women birth babies back in the clan. I'll be alright. It's the actual raising that worries me, I've only had Galahad to practice on." Tristan chuckled, kissing her face but then drew back, frowning at her again.
"But still, if you require anything, you will tell me?" Amaya smiled softly, chuckling at his worried expression. He seemed as nervous about the prospect of becoming a parent as she was. He held her tenderly, one hand resting on her stomach and the warmth his hand brought her gave Amaya great comfort as they lay on the grass, simply gazing at one another until Arluin began to snort and call out to them. Tristan looked up.
"We should go." He murmured then lifted Amaya up and carried her back to the horses. He went to speak but Amaya lifted her hand.
"If you dare ask me whether or not I am fit to ride, I swear I shall knock you out." He smirked then closed his mouth, saying nothing further as he lifted his woman up into the saddle then mounted his horse. He rode beside her at a walk, his hand reaching out to slowly entwine with hers to make sure she was there. "Maia is with child too. We found out together at the same time." Amaya said to Tristan who nodded his head. Suddenly he looked at her.
"Does this child mean that we must marry?" Her head snapped around to face him sharply, her eyes narrowing as she frowned. "It is your choice." He continued, looking ahead once more.
"What are you saying, Tristan?" He shrugged.
"If you wish to keep your respectability, I shall be your husband." Amaya could tell that being married in the way of the Britons did not appeal to Tristan. He, much like Amaya, were greatly influenced by the traditions of their homeland and back there, their people did not marry as such. There was a ceremony where they were unified which only happened when a man had chosen his lifetime companion or he wanted to claim the woman for his own. There was no grand feast or priest to recite the vows, just the clan gathered in the tent of the chief who would then give their blessing to the couple, seal them together through the sharing of a meal and then they would spend the night together and wake up as man and wife.
"Tristan, you and I both know that that is not what you want." Amaya answered simply. "I will not force you into a union you do not want." The scout sighed then moved his horse forwards so Amaya stopped, letting him ride around then level his horse with hers so that he faced her.
"I want you, Maya, I want to be with you. Just not by their laws." His eyes looked back towards Camelot briefly before they returned to her. "Although I respect Arthur, their unions mean nothing in my eyes. It is just some man preaching words of no sense." Amaya arched an eyebrow at him and he growled, raking a hand through his hair before licking his lips. "I love you." He blurted then grimaced, taking a deep breath as he struggled to find the right words. "I love you, Maya, and to me that is enough, but if you want more then I shall give it to you."
Amaya moved Arluin forwards a step then stopped him, looking Tristan deeply in the eyes then let her lips touch his to calm him, easing the tension from his shoulders until she pulled away. "I want nothing more than to be with you Tristan, in any way possible. I am content like this, happier than I could ever have thought to be." She told him in a quiet but tender voice. "And I don't give a damn about those overdressed idiots any more than you do."
"They will scorn you." He warned her but she shrugged, smirking at him.
"I'm a partly wild heathen witch who fights in battles, outwits advisors and competes in the gladiator arena. When have they not scorned me?" Tristan shifted uneasily, frowning slightly at her before sighing, shaking his head.
"It does not feel right." She reached out and touched his face, brushing the back of her hand down his cheek then ran her thumb over his lower lip.
"Tristan, be honest with yourself. You do not wish to be tied to someone else, you are a free spirit and I understand that. So do not worry for me. I have the respect of my brothers, of Arthur, the guards, the army and entire city. What do I care about some few courtiers who scowl at me? Vanora had eleven bastards before she married Bors." Tristan growled.
"They married because she was looked down upon." His hand reached up and gripped the one caressing his face, gently holding her fingers as he turned his face and tentatively placed feather light kisses on her palm. Amaya admired how gentle and loving he could be, mostly when he was confused, worried or unsure about something, his natural instinct was to find comfort and reassurance in Amaya. Slowly he looked into Amaya's eyes. "And I don't like the way other men look at you."
"I don't like the way some women look at you." She returned. "Sometimes I just want to claw their eyes out." Tristan smirked, still holding her hand to his face which she lightly brushed, feeling the bristle of his beard. She had always enjoyed the rough scratch of those hairs against her skin whenever they kissed, she loved everything about Tristan down to the stupid grunts he makes when he cannot be bothered to answer a question.
"Maya, I have courted you, loved you and fought beside you and now you carry my child. If there was anyone I would tie myself to, it would be you. If you would accept me as your husband, I would find no greater joy until I hold that child in my arms." In one of the rare moments when Tristan had found the right words, Amaya stared at him as he cupped her face. "Be with me. As my wife." Taking a moment to breathe in deeply and collect herself, Amaya answered.
"Yes." Tristan gave a soft smile then nodded his head, pulling Amaya closer to hold her against him, their horses shifting under the unbalance of weight so he let her go.
"I shall inform Arthur." Amaya frowned.
"No, I won't marry you for them to be satisfied, Tristan. I'll marry you because it is what we want." She smiled at him. "I'll marry you in the ways of our fathers." Now it was Tristan's turn to frown, cocking his head to the side. Suddenly the hawk swept down and he blinked before lifting his arm, letting her settle there but did not pay her further attention so Amaya reached out to stroke her feathers instead.
"We do not have a chief to bless us." He reasoned but Amaya smirked.
"I'm a chief." Tristan blinked at her in surprise, regarding her carefully to make sure she was not jesting. "When our tribe disbanded, another tribe welcomed us and made me their leader to protect them from the Huns." She bit her lip and lowered her eyes briefly before lifting them back to his again, heart pounding in her chest. "I could do it." Without warning Tristan gripped Amaya's waist then pulled her onto his horse, making Arluin start with surprise then snort and the hawk cawed in irritation as Tristan held Amaya with one arm. When his hawk flew away with a chime of her bell, his other hand came to rest on her waist, the other touching her stomach instinctively.
"Then do it." From within the pocket of his shirt he withdrew a small item and Amaya frowned slightly before he held his clenched fist in front of her and slowly opened out his palm to face her. Her eyes widened, glancing to the gold band with a crinkled pattern rising up to meet the dark blue stone at its centre. It was beautiful but Amaya could not believe that Tristan had planned this. He smirked. "Speechless?"
"Very. Now give me that damn ring!" She replied and reached out to take it but he lifted it away easily, still smirking as Amaya shot him a dark look before breaking out into a smile. "Tristan." She warned but he silenced her with a kiss.
"Say the words." Amaya shifted in her seat, placing her hands on Tristan's shoulders to look into his eyes.
"Where streams join to form rivers and where the sky meets the horizon, the union of the earth is manifested into these two souls of kindred spirit. Let their lives be long and fruitful, may the guardians of our land watch over them in their union as they too become one with the earth. Ancestors that watch over us, bless this man and woman, who are of age and consent to this unification before witnesses." Amaya looked to the horses then smirked. It counted. The witnesses were not necessary anyway. "May he be strong and of good faith, may she be stronger still to carry the burdens he cannot bear and together, let them form a strength unbeatable to their foes. In the name of the gods, I, Amaya of the Iazyges tribe, Chieftain of the western river peak clan, bless this match." Taking a breath Amaya leaned forwards. "Do you accept this woman, Tristan, son of the Roxolani?"
"Yes." He murmured, lowering his head to nuzzle against Amaya's neck, causing her to gasp at his teasing attentions. "And do you accept this man, Amaya, daughter of the Iazyges?"
"Of course I do you stupid scout." She smirked then pulled up his head to kiss him, sealing the union. Tristan found Amaya's left hand as their lips embraced, sliding the ring onto the traditional ring finger for the sake of there being no confusion within the court.
Tristan had expected to feel a heavy weight of responsibility settle on him when he accepted Amaya as his wife but in honesty, he felt no different. It brought him great peace and comfort to not have to carry a weight like that on his shoulders. If anything, he felt lighter. His heart soared into the air, joining his hawk in the skies as he held Amaya close.
The only drawback was the worry he held for the future as a father. In all honesty, he did not feel ready. He still could not believe it, yet he would not wish for it any other way. He would adjust, there was still time before the child arrived.
As they walked into the great hall, Tristan's hand on Amaya's shoulder, everyone turned and cheered. "Maya! Have you heard? Mai is with child! I'm going to be a father which means you, oh beloved, sweet sister, are going to be an aunt!" Galahad cried as he ran to Amaya and lifted her up into the air, making her laugh as he spun around several times with her before embracing his sister.
"Well then Galahad, I offer you both my congratulations. Now it is your turn to do the same." Amaya declared loudly and everyone frowned at her. "Because you, my little wolf, are going to be an uncle!" She turned on the knights, still beaming. "You're all going to be uncles!" Galahad's jaw dropped and Bors roared with laughter, striding forwards with a broad grin as he lifted Amaya onto his shoulder then saluted with the goblet of wine he had in his other hand.
"Arthur! Bring up more wine!" Bors bellowed as Arthur threw back his head with laughter, nodding his head to a servant who ran off. "We'll be needing that God of yours soon, if we have a little Tristan running around, we'll be watching our backs. If we get a little Maya, however, we'll need all the help we can get! If we get both…that's when we'll need your God and all his angels just to keep up with them!" Amaya laughed as Tristan was dragged forwards by Gawain and Dagonet and Amaya was gently placed down on the ground before him.
His eyes locked with hers and she smiled warmly up at him as the knights began to chant a song, pushing Galahad and Maia forwards so that the four of them were surrounded. The court looked baffled, unsure of what to do so they politely smiled and sipped their wine but Amaya paid no attention to them.
When Tristan placed a hand against her stomach, she looked down and could not help but glow inwardly. She had not imagined the thought of motherhood to be so appealing. For so many years she had been dead set against it but now that she truly had the chance to experience the raising of a child to be the best that they can be, she wanted nothing else.
"Now you'll have to marry her Tristan!" Lancelot joked, punching Tristan in the shoulder. "All you men settling down with wives, only Dagonet and I seem to have the sensible heads around here!" The tall knight laughed as Tristan silently reached out and lifted Amaya's right hand, showing everyone the ring that glistened on her finger. She chuckled, seeing their faces drop with their gaping mouths. "You're already engaged?"
"No, we're married." Amaya corrected and Lancelot's mouth dropped further. "I married us, in the way of our people." Smiling she stepped closer to Tristan, turning to Arthur as she announced. "This is my husband, and whether your laws recognise the union or not, it is the way we desired it to be." She smiled at Arthur as he approached, Guinevere's hand resting on his as he led her.
"I bless you." Arthur said, lifting a hand and touched Amaya's face. "The union will be recognised, I wish you all the happiness." Arthur clapped Tristan on the shoulder but he continued to look at Amaya. "Try and get him to smile more often." Amaya laughed, smiling broadly then looked to Bors who had ordered the musicians to strike up a song. He mock danced with his wine, taking deep gulps before tossing it aside and grabbing Vanora, pulling her into the open space and spun her around.
Galahad jumped up and pulled Maia with him, causing her to squeal with laughter as he lifted her up into the air. Arthur bowed to Guinevere who curtseyed with a grin and they too joined the dance until finally, everyone was partnered up and dancing with someone with bright smiles and ringing laughter.
Tristan sat back on the bench, watching the dance as Amaya sat quietly beside him, smiling. He slipped an arm around her waist and pulled her closer, gazing into her eyes. "Tristan, are you ready for parenthood?" Amaya asked with a slightly worried look on her face. Honestly, Tristan shook his head. "Me neither." She admitted with a sigh, leaning her head against his shoulder as he propped his chin on the crown of her head.
"We shall figure what to do." Tristan murmured to her. "If Bors can do it then we should not have too much of a problem." She chuckled softly, reaching out to brush some of his fringe away from his eyes so that there was nothing in between them.
"I'll never understand how I came to deserve you, but I thank the gods every day regardless." She murmured then rose to her feet, touching Tristan's shoulder then began to slip away but Tristan got up and followed, making her turn and look to him quizzically but he said nothing.
She continued her walk, intending to go and find Demon though he was probably with Arluin but when Tristan caught her waist and spun her around, she blinked in surprise as he stood with her close to him. He did not know what to say, finding it difficult to understand exactly how he needed to express what he wanted Amaya to know. Finding that the words just would not rise to his tongue, Tristan picked up Amaya's hands, placed them on his shoulders then held her waist before slowly moving into the steps of the dance as the music filtered after them, echoing through the halls.
Tristan enjoyed the way Amaya stared up at him in astonishment as it helped him to know that he was doing the right thing. She looked happy, unquestionably happy though a little unsure of what she was doing with her feet. Tristan chuckled richly, shaking his head at her before lifting her up, slowly turning a circle before lowering her back down again, their lips brushing during her descent.
"You never cease to amaze me, scout." Amaya murmured to him as he continued to slowly step forwards and to the side, guiding her gently with him. He cocked an eyebrow at her with a satisfied smirk. When they could no longer hear the music Tristan lifted Amaya up and sat her on the balcony, brushing back her hair then reached for the rose garlands that grew around the stone and ledge, pulling one free then picked off the thorns.
He looked at the deep red rose, thinking how similar the colour was to blood yet women adored the flowers almost as much as the men who gave the flowers to them. With a sigh he offered it to Amaya who took it, twirling it around in her fingers before looking at him. There was no sweeping romance in the gesture as it was not Tristan's way, but the time he took to think of doing such a thing spoke louder to Amaya than any elaborate declaration of love another might have chosen to commit to her. It was simple, simple yet it meant something.
She smiled then chuckled, pulling him closer to her. "You try very hard, don't you?" She murmured to him and he shrugged, one hand at her waist as she leaned her brow against his. "Thank you Tristan."
"It's just a rose." He muttered but Amaya shook her head.
"The flower means nothing, it's the gesture I'm thanking you for." To thank him properly, Amaya kissed him gently then rested her head against him as he looked forward to the skies behind her. His fingers slowly followed the curve of her waist as his mind wandered away. What if he was not a good father? He struggled to be affectionate and open with Amaya when in public with people watching, so how was he going to manage with both her and a child?
Sensing him tense, Amaya hushed him quietly, lifting a hand to tenderly stroke his hair as slowly worked her fingers into the pressure points of Tristan's body, relaxing him. "We're going to be alright."
"I don't know what I'm supposed to do, Maya." Tristan said to her, neither moving from their embrace. "What if I frighten it?"
"Tristan, I hardly know what I'm doing either." She said to him, trying to ease his worries. "We're in the same boat here which means that I'm going to need you as much as you're going to need me." Pulling back to look into her eyes she offered him a soft, easy smile. "This is a child, our child, not one of Vanora's brood or an urchin on the street. It will know us and it will grow up understanding who you are and if you find it more comfortable to save your affectionate smiles and embraces for when we're alone then our child will not mind it. In fact, it will give them something to look forwards to. Don't worry, Tristan, it's a long way off yet." Nodding his head he sighed, this time leaning dependently into Amaya who wrapped her arms around him, shrouding her scout in her loving and protective embrace as he drew strength from her.