As if the land itself were mourning the loss of life during and directly after Ruber's invasion, Autumn came in cold and grey and on the tail end of a storm. Kayleigh had left her house, wearing a waxed cloak and a thick traveling dress to protect against the cold and wet, to meet with the other landlords in her region to discuss how to manage what resources Ruber's army had left behind. Her plan was to travel four days to Garrett's new lands and ride with him over the course of a week to meet with the others at a tavern on the border between Sir Lachtna's and Sir Sagramore's lands.

Though her stallion was a fine horse, she found herself missing the speed of flying with Devon and Cornwall. The two had proven themselves most useful during the trials, and had since decided to offer their services as messengers for Arthur whenever a matter could not wait the usual days or weeks to be settled by horseback or foot messenger. Parting with them had been uncertain, but they visited somewhat regularly and seemed quite happy with their position. It seemed the people who lived within the city of Camelot were warming up to them quickly, and they had started taking on private messages and deliveries when the king had no work for them.

Perhaps, she mused, she would meet them while on her way to meet Garrett.

Kayleigh did not happen across her dragon friends while on her travels, but she did arrive early, just as the sun finally set on her third day of travelling. Aiden greeted her as soon as she reached the main gate. The falcon nuzzled her as she let herself in before guiding her to the stable and flying off, presumably to alert its master to his visitor.

In the meantime, Kayleigh unsaddled her horse and led it to an empty stall. She had just finished brushing out the creature's mane and tail when she heard Garrett walk into the stable. She put up the tack and shoveled some more hay into the stall before turning to greet her host.

Her breath caught in her throat. Garrett had brushed his hair out and wore it tied back so it no longer obscured his face, his old green tunic from the Forest had been replaced with a new red one embroidered with black thread around the neckline and bottom hem. He held himself differently too, neither the comfortable half-slouch he used in the forest nor the unnaturally straight and stiff posture he used in Camelot, but the confident air of someone born to his position.

"Kayleigh, are you alright?" he asked after what she realized was a longer pause than intended.

"You- you look well, that is all." Was the stable on fire or was it her? Kayleigh guessed the latter since there was a distinct lack of panicked horses trying to escape. "I take it you are handling your new position well?"

Garrett smiled and offered his hand. "Care to look around for the both of us?"

Kayleigh stifled a laugh and took his hand. "Just like before, huh? You lead the way and I'll tell you what it all looks like."

"Almost like before. This time we only have to worry about being spotted by the gossips."

"What would mother say if word got around to her that we've come to enjoy each other's company?" Kayleigh raised the back of her hand to her forehead in mock distress. "Especially after having spent so long together to find Excalibur and save the kingdom? One would think we were in love or something!" She giggled, failing any attempt at subtlety she might have made.

Garrett smiled and traced her face with his hands. "One would be right, you know..."

"Mother bade me ask when we plan to announce our betrothal." She sighed. "And the terms thereof..."

Garrett took her hands in his and listened for a moment. "Is there anyone around?"

Kayleigh looked, just to be certain. "No, there is nobody in sight."

"I want to negotiate the terms of our betrothal after we are knighted... So that I may take your name without so much scandal."

Kayleigh gaped, "Garrett… You're taking my name?"

He smiled. "There's not exactly a precedent for two knights marrying each other, is there? Whatever we choose to do with our names will be our choice." He let go of her hand before she could hug him. "Now we'd best get to the house before someone comes looking for us. Propriety, after all."

Kayleigh raised an eyebrow but humored him. She took a deep breath, masked her giddiness behind her well-practiced neutral face, and ran through the economic matters at hand.

Over the next few hours, they discussed their plans for surviving the winter without the resources that had been lost or stolen. By the time Kayleigh retired to her guest room, they had worked out plans that would see them and their people through the winter, but with nothing leftover. They had agreed that, to prepare for any unforeseen trouble, they would return to the Forbidden Forest once more to hunt. Whether they would bring a party with them was a matter they debated both for and against; extra hands meant precious more food could be brought back, but whether those hands would survive the forest was another matter entirely. An idea came to Kayleigh as she fell asleep and she prayed she would remember it later, when she could propose it.

The next day saw them on the road for what would be several days' unchaperoned travel. The first time since their quest. It was familiar and different all at once. Memories of their last journey together made it uncomfortable, and the reminder that nobody was in immediate peril lessened the effect. Kayleigh decided she could get used to this.

Kayleigh pitched her idea was soon as they reached the road, and they had thoroughly discussed it by the time they stopped to let their horses rest for the first time. If, and only if, it became necessary to hunt in the Forbidden Forest during the winter, they would ask for volunteers. A fortnight would be dedicated to training and selecting the best handful of men to accompany them. Each would be made as aware of the risks as possible, and they would travel in a carefully planned order; Garrett would lead with Ayden as his eyes. Kayleigh would rotate with the rest of the men for rear guard, but would be the unquestioned second-in-command. Anyone who opposed the chain of command would be removed from the party before they ever set out for the forest. All that remained was to tell the others this plan so they could gather volunteers from their own people if the need arose.

With business completely exhausted for the time being, the conversation turned to alternating banter and comfortable silence.

The journey largely passed in that manner, and they arrived at the tavern in time to meet up with Sir Sagramore and Sir Lachtna.

"It is good to see you have made good time," Sir Sagramore greeted them. It took a moment for Kayleigh to understand his words through his harsh foreign accent. "I trust your journey was pleasant?" He added after a moment. It dawned on Kayleigh that he was used to his accent getting in the way of communication at first.

"We met no trouble." Kayleigh replied, "How go your preparations for winter?"

"They are going well." Sir Sagramore answered, leading them through the tavern to a table in a corner, where Sir Lachtna, Sir Dagonet, and Sir Gingalain sat. "I think we may be in a position to render aid if necessary. What of you and yours, Maid Kayleigh? You were initially targeted, no?"

"Squire Garrett and I have devised a plan to sustain our people through the winter with the aid we have been offered previously," Kayleigh reported as she took her seat at the table, "but there will be nothing left over unless we augment it with a hunt in the Forbidden Forest."

Sir Lachtna abruptly set his drink on the table, gulping down what he had almost inhaled. "Forgive my bluntness," he began, his voice tight, "But not even Sir Lionel was so foolish! And your mother forbade us to speak of his antics lest you get any ideas!"

Sir Sagramore raised an eyebrow, "That must have been before I arrived."

Sir Gingalain nodded, "Indeed. He very quickly abandoned his wilder exploits after Kayleigh was born. She swore us to secrecy when Kayleigh began to run around on her own. You didn't arrive until some time later."

"That explains it."

Sir Lachtna shot the others a look before he added, "You are mere months away from sitting at the Round Table, so I suggest you put away such foolishness!"

Sir Dagonet snorted, "Oh, do calm down! Better to have a pair of fools than a pair of cowards sitting at the Table."

"You would know about that, wouldn't you?" Sir Lachtna replied flatly. He turned back to Kayleigh and Garrett, only slightly calmer. "What in Heaven's Name has possessed you that you would consider an hunt in the Forbidden Forest?"

Garrett's hands fidgeted, but his face remained stoic, "I know the Forest well enough to have led Maid Kayleigh through it even with Ruber and his men on our trail. The young lady herself was able to fend for both of us when I was hurt. I do not make light of the dangers of the Forest, but we believe that a small volunteer expedition of trained and obedient men may stand a chance of returning with enough to ease the strictness of the planned rations."

Sir Lachtna's expression told Kayleigh he did not favor the plan. Sir Sagramore and Sir Gingalain appeared only marginally more interested. Sir Dagonet was barely containing a wistful smile. Kayleigh got the distinct feeling she was going to learn more about her father before the talks were over.

Garrett shifted. "We are fully aware of the risks, and thus chose to ask for your guidance and expertise. The four of you know how to lead men and convince them to follow your orders. Whatever you can teach us will go a very long way in ensuring this plan's success should we need to implement it."

The four exchanged a look. Incredulity was not quite the right word, but Kayleigh required no words to understand what the men were thinking. Kayleigh put on her best neutral expression, straightened her back, and sighed internally. This was going to be a very long meeting.

Three days of planning and debating later, the meeting finally ended. Kayleigh and Garrett agreed not to put their plan into action unless the winter ran long and no further aid was available.

Kayleigh had indeed learned more about her father. It explained a lot about herself, but she pushed the new information to the back of her mind lest she upset her mother by speaking of it.

The two fell into a comfortable silence on the return trip, only occasionally breaking the silence to discuss their upcoming conferment to knighthood or potential terms for merging and jointly managing their combined holdings. Sometimes, when they could be absolutely certain they were alone, they dared to hold hands or refer to each other without honorifics.

Kayleigh relished those moments. She could never admit how much she had longed for simple, affectionate touch even before meeting Garrett. Even simply walking hand-in-hand brought her a feeling of safety she had missed since leaving the Forest. It was safety and comfort she could not hope to explain without scandal, and yet it was the least scandalous feeling she knew.

A precious handful of those moments later, they arrived at Garrett's house again. Tactfully, and with adequate poise for their impending ranks, they bade each other goodbye and parted ways. Their plans for surviving the winter were in motion, and though there was still much to be done, it would be done.

Kayleigh's solo trip back home was lonelier than she would willingly admit. The silence was no longer comfortable, but she kept her ears open lest any straggling bandits attempt to steal from her. As the gate to her property faded into view, she offered a silent prayer of thanks for her luck before nudging her horse to a leisurely trot.

The animal must have sensed her restlessness or else she had urged it on unthinkingly. Before she knew it, she was barrelling down the road, practically crouched in the saddle, with the wind whipping at her face.

It did not stop the loneliness like she had hoped. She regained control of her horse and slowed the creature back down to a walk, and then a stop at the gate. She dismounted and led the fine animal up the path to the barn.

She swallowed and reminded herself that her loneliness would not last forever.

Author's Notes:

I know I apologize in like all of these nowadays, but I mean it. I'm sorry this thing is taking so long to finish! Thank you for bearing with me, and for commenting and especially those of you who put up with my whining all the time (you know who you are).

I'm trying to include more of the knights as I can work them into the story.

Hopefully I'll be able to roll out the last 2-3 chapters sooner. No idea what's going to happen after I finish this. As always critique is welcome.

As always, thanks for bearing with me. You guys are the best!