In Camelot’s Shadow: Book One of The Paths to Camelot Series (Prologue Fantasy) by Sarah Zettel

warmth. His exercise kept him from feeling the deepening cold, so Gawain unclasped his cloak and laid it over her like a blanket. Heand leaned close to see if any token of fever clouded her clear brow. But there was only the summer scent of her, and the deep, regular breathing of a peaceful sleeper.
    Against his will, Gawain remembered Pacis. Her skin had been white like this, her cheeks and shoulders this round as she lay sleeping beside him, before she had woken and kissed him lightly and bid him begone before her husband returned.
    Before she had laughed when he had begged her to come with him.
    Gawain busied himself with the fire to distract himself from those deeply unwanted thoughts. Before he had to look any longer at this beauty who reminded him so sharply of that other.
    Agravain would have a whole sermon to preach if he could but see you now
, he thought ruefully. Of his three brothers, Agravain was closest to him in age, and his harshest critic. Gawain had once heard that when the ancient emperors of Rome rode through the streets to display their spoils of battle, a man rode beside them whose job was to whisper in the conqueror’s ear ‘remember thou art mortal’. Agravain seemed to have taken that role on himself with respect to Gawain.
    What will you do when one of your dalliances forgets her undying love for you and shows up at court in tears with a big belly and a witness to your pretty words?
Agravain would say, and had said, more than once, his sharp face creased with anger.
How much will our uncle have to settle on that cuckolded husband, or petty chieftain’s daughter? You could always refuse to acknowledge the truth of their claim, I suppose, but that would stain some of that virtue you polish up like your arms before you go into battle …
    The situation was only made worse by the fact that Agravain’s scoldings were not without merit. Gawain poked at the fire with one of the damp sticks he had gathered and frowned. It wasn’t that he was unmindful of his responsibilities. He took them most seriously. Arthur was a great king and a great man. Living up to his example was a life’s work which Gawain set himself to with a good will. If it was love that led him astray, surely there were others who had done far worse?
    Gawain grimaced as he thought of the colors Agravain’s face would turn if he spoke that light verse. And there were others who would not approve. He winced and glanced up at the cross above the altar.
    Penitent, Gawain knelt in prayer, hands clasped before him. He carefully recited his pater noster and added,
Father, forgive my sins and help me strive to be more worthy of the grace You showed through your Son, Jesus Christ. Mother Mary, guide this foolish sinner and show him how he may amend his faults. Amen, amen, amen
.
    Gawain crossed himself. Resolutely, he sat down facing the door with the fire and the lady at his back and his sword naked on his lap, in case the villain who pursued this maiden and killed her protector should attempt to return, in case the villain who pursued this maiden and killed her protector should attempt to return, and so that he would not have to watch her sleeping there and think again of Pacis.
    Risa woke slowly and reluctantly. The first thing she saw was a low fire smoldering on a floor of rough flagstones. The smell of horse hung in the air, overwhelming the smell of smoke.
    Memory rolled over her like thunderclouds across a summer sky. She pushed herself instantly upright and became aware of a stiff neck and a sore back. A cloak slithered off her shoulders, but she paid it no mind. Across the fire she made out Thetis standing beside a great white charger and a small bay palfrey. The saddles and tidy piles of harness waited beside the splintered wooden door.
    “God be with you this morning, my lady,” said a man’s voice, pleasantly, as if she had just walked into the great hall to break her fast. Risa nearly jumped out of her skin, and she stared.