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“Just as you do with Guinevere,” I interjected.
“Right. I have no choice.”
“Because you feel the same way about her as Draven and I do about each other,” I pointed out.
“If I do, I’m alone. It’s one-sided, Morgan.”
I stared at her. “Do you really believe that?”
“Of course. Don’t you?”
I thought about it carefully for a moment. “No. I don’t. At least, I think there’s a real chance that... that your feelings are not at all one-sided.”
Lancelet had paled. “Truly?”
“Truly. You really had no idea?”
“I know she cares for me as a friend and... well, tolerates me as a guardian. I’m in her way, but she never complains.”
“Is that what you think?” I shook my head. “I see something different. But even if I didn’t... you love her. I know you do. Will you go your whole life without ever expressing that? Simply being a silent guardian?”
“I could. Easily. And die happy,” Lancelet claimed.
“Happy?” I shook my head. “I don’t know if that’s happiness, Lancelet. When I think of you before...” I paused. “Well, I’m not the only one who’s changed.”
“Yes, well, being ravaged and nearly killed by flesh-eating children can tend to do that to one,” she snapped. She looked at me. “Besides, did you think I would simply hop from one dalliance to another forever?”
“I honestly had no idea what you would do,” I said. “I certainly never expected you to fall for a celibate priestess.”
Our eyes met, and we burst out laughing.
“Neither did I,” Lancelet managed between choked laughter. “Oh, gods, it’s unbelievable in some ways, isn’t it? What a curse.”
“But she was always more than a priestess, I suppose,” I said as our laughter died off.
“She was meant to be your brother’s bride. The fucking bastard.”
I nodded. “She’s complex. I can’t read Guinevere.”
“Nor can I,” Lancelet said morosely. “She’s a mystery. Like the goddesses themselves.”
I bit my lip, knowing that to her, Guinevere was a goddess as much as I was one in Draven’s love-blinded eyes.
“And yet here you sit telling me to do what?” Lancelet complained. “You want me to do what? Go and knock on the flap of her tent?”
“Something like that. Yes, maybe precisely that. Why not? Lancelet, she doesn’t belong to the temple anymore. She made that clear.”
“So? That doesn’t mean she wants me bothering her.”
“It’s not as if you won’t go away if she says no. But to never give her a chance to say yes?”
Lancelet was quiet for a while. “I’m not sure what I’d do if she did say no. How could I face her?”
“You’d do what you’re doing now. Continue guarding her, protecting her. At least for the rest of our journey. But at least you’d know.”
“My path lies with her, whether she wants me or not,” Lancelet said quietly.
“Fine. I won’t argue with that. But go to her, Lancelet. At least try.”
