It was stupid to feel hurt, because he trusted his friends and they must have good reason, but after all he'd been through why weren't theyhere.
Just as he started to turn to retreat to the lake though, to deal with all of this when the sun was up, a voice stopped him.
"There you are, pretty thing."
Lancelot jerked as though struck by lightning, tears stinging his eyes as he looked around frantically for the source.Was it all in his head?Had he finally snapped?Surely that couldn't have been…
Then a broad, towering, enormous figure stepped out of the shadows of a towering oak tree as the wind rustled gently all around them.
"It—it can't be."
Galehaut smiled in that soft, gentle way of his and held out his arms."I've waited a long time to see you again properly.Come here."
"Gale," Lancelot said hoarsely, then ran to him, throwing himself into Galehaut's arms and holding him so tightly it hurt."Am I actually dead?Am I dreaming?"
"You're alive and well," Galehaut said roughly."We all are, thanks to you."
Lancelot cried into his shoulders."You were dead.I killed you.I drowned you, the only thing you were ever afraid of.You trusted me and I drowned you."
"Shhh," Galehaut said soothingly."You did what you must to save Camelot."He set Lancelot back on his feet and cupped his face in those enormous, gentle hands, wiping away tears with his thumbs."Maleagant took me as a child, you know.I was only barely ten.He restored my memories, somehow, so that as a mere boy I knew all that had happened in my previous life.Then he locked me in that collar, made me his slave.Even if I had remained dead, my heart, you would have freed me from that.
"Anyway, I don't remember much of anything of those last moments.I was too overwhelmed by pain, shadows, and the chaos of the fight.So though you were forced to drown me, I have no memory of it.Even if I did, I would still know that you did what you must, what was right.Do you hate me?For hurting you over and over?For trying to kill you on Maleagant's orders?"
"Of course I don't.That wasn't you.You didn't have a choice."
"Nor did you, while I was his obedient dog.You did what you had to.You've always done what is best for Camelot and its people.No matter how much it hurt you.No matter what it cost you."
"I missed you so much," Lancelot said."I'm sorry I had to hurt you—kill you.It will haunt me for a long time."
"I'll just have to keep you distracted.Now kiss me, pretty thing, for I have missed you desperately all these years while I was locked away in the recesses of my own mind."He picked Lancelot up again, as though it were the easiest thing in the world, and Lancelot threw his arms around his neck and kissed him with all the agony and fear and longing of the past many weeks.
Lancelot laughed with relief and joy as they parted, caressing the lines of Galehaut's face."I thought I'd lost you.I can't believe I have you again."
"You're going to have me, all right," Galehaut said, carrying him over to the oak tree.Where an enormous bed had been made up under a sprawling canopy, and a campfire was ready to be lit when needed, with food and other supplies aplenty.The bed was piled with blankets and furs, had clearly been spelled for additional warmth so the fire would not be needed.Galehaut had been out for days, and clearly would have stayed out here days more.
"Why are you camping out here with the castle right there?"Lancelot asked in bewilderment.
Galehaut gave him a look."As though I would stray further from your side than I must.The water prevented me from sleeping beside you, but I could remain here until the best or the worst came to pass."He set Lancelot on his feet, kissed him until he couldn't breathe, then went to light the fire.
Lancelot banished all his clothes and stretched out on the bed, sighing softly that it smelled of Galehaut, warm and earthy and so desperately missed.His tears mingled with smooth linen and soft fur, as relief threatened to tear him apart at the seams.
Just minutes ago he'd wished he'd died.Now he had everything he'd ever wanted.To say he was frayed at the edges and barely knew which way was up was an understatement as vast as the ocean was deep.
A large hand ran up his leg from ankle to ass, kneading it briefly before pushing Lancelot over on his back.The crackling fire painted his skin in oranges and yellows.Equally naked now, he climbed into bed, over Lancelot, and took his mouth in a hungry, demanding, claiming kiss.
Maybe they should be taking their time, talking and resting and reconnecting more gently, but Lancelot didn't give a fuck.He wanted his gentle giant in every way he could have him, feel for himself, deeply and truly, that Galehaut was alive and well and his once more.
Later they'd take their time, explore and tease and relearn every last detail.Right now, Lancelot was far too greedy for slow and tender, and Galehaut's desperate need matched his own.In no time at all, he'd breached Lancelot's hole with one large, slick finger, making him howl as he found what he sought."How long since someone has done right by you, pretty thing?"
"Years ago, and they weren't very satisfying.Easier to just log into a porn game and basically get myself off," Lancelot gasped out, then moaning as one finger became two.Nobody had ever filled him like Galehaut, and he didn't care about what kind of slut that made him.Managing a laugh between moans, he gasped out, "You know how picky I am."
"You know what you need and accept nothing less.That's not picky," Galehaut said, stretching him wide, always careful but never to the point of coddling.He smiled, hot and smug, as Lancelot shuddered, pushed back on his fingers, and finally added a third one."Certainly I like knowing I'm the only one who can fill you properly."
"Only you," Lancelot said, clinging to his shoulders, nails biting into his skin."Now fill me."
Withdrawing his fingers, leaving Lancelot achingly empty for terrible seconds, Galehaut slicked his cock, lined it up, and finally, slowly, pushed inside him."Are you certain it's not too much after all this time?"
"You could never be too much for me," Lancelot said breathlessly."Now move."
