The days following our Knighting passed in a blur of discussions and planning. Summer was approaching and the knights were getting ready to head back to their homes and villages to take care of local matters. Each knight was from a different part of the Kingdom, and while they worked together as a whole to protect Camelot, they all had responsibilities back home as well.

Though I was thrilled to be included, I quickly began to dread being at the Round Table. The knights were eager to settle the matter of my family's land, as well as the land that had belonged to Ruber before his defeat.

Everyone had an opinion about what should be done with both parcels of land. Since my father had been a Knight and his seat had never been filled, it was assumed that I would continue his work, moving between our village and the castle as needed.

For Garrett, it was not as simple. An orphan with little knowledge about his parents or their backgrounds, let alone land to inherit, was an unusual candidate for Knighthood. Before the ceremony, it was decided that Garrett would remain at the castle and assist with the repairs until a more permanent decision was made.

I was well aware that this decision included me. If we were married, my father's land would pass to Garrett and we would both oversee the goings on in the village. This meant we would be living together, working together and traveling together. I much preferred this over the proposed alternative of Garrett taking over Ruber's land.

After the topic had been brought up yet again, I knew we needed to make a decision. Garrett was overseeing the repairs to the castle tunnels and hadn't made it to this meeting. I found Garrett in the central courtyard, taking a break from the repairs. He had voluntarily taken charge of the project, as he knew the tunnels inside and out and was not hindered by the darkness within them.

"Kayley," he said as I approached, startling me.

"How-" I started to ask, but he cut me off.

"I can recognize your footfalls," he said simply, shrugging.

"How are the repairs coming along?" I asked, hoping I sounded cheerful. I loathed the pattern of small talk we had fallen into; there was far too much that remained unspoken between us.

"Would you like to see for yourself?" he asked, and reached for my hand.

"Oh, sure. I mean, I can't see in the tunnels, but I know you've been working so hard and-" I was babbling, much like I had found myself doing often in the forest whenever I didn't know what to do or say around Garrett.

He remained silent, leading me towards the tunnel we had taken to the King's Keep during Ruber's attack. I shivered as the darkness surrounded us, and he squeezed my hand in return.

"You know, these tunnels are the safest places within the castle," he said, not letting go of my hand. "You might find it useful to know your way around them."

I opened my mouth to respond, when Garrett stopped walking, holding his other hand out to prevent me from crashing into the wall.

"You're not using your staff," I mused, realizing both of his hands were empty.

"I know these tunnels by heart," he answered simply. I knew that as a young boy, he would use the tunnels with the other stable hands to get in and around the castle without running into anyone who might shoo them away.

"Now," he said, taking both my hands and placing them on the newly reconstructed tunnel wall. "You are going to lead us back."

"I'm - what?" I asked in confusion, before realizing that there were markings carved into the otherwise smooth surface. I traced the engravings, realizing I felt arrows and symbols. I felt the symbol for Camelot with its interlocking rings, and then began tracing the markings that led away from where I guessed the exit into the Keep was.

"These are incredible! Did you do this?" I asked in awe.

"Yes, and I plan to continue through the entire tunnel system. Keep going," he urged.

I was able to follow the carved symbols as I felt along the wall, only faltering when I came to a fork. Garrett remained silent, letting me work out what to do. I ran my hand over one large engraving several times, before realizing it was the outline of a horse. This, then, was the entrance to the stables, away from the courtyard through which we had entered the tunnels.

I paused, unsure of what Garrett wanted. I knew he hadn't visited the stables since we had arrived in Camelot. He had expressed interest in the horses, but kept his distance. I reached for Garrett's hand again, but felt nothing. I turned around in the blackness and collided with his still form, leaning against the opposite wall.

His arms wrapped around me, and I understood which way I was meant to go. He was gathering his strength before facing the very place that had stolen his sight from him. Resting his chin on the top of my head, he took a deep breath and then stepped around me, taking the lead again.

I smelled the stables before the dim light hit me face. The stench of horses and hay was strong, but I was used to it from our own small barn at home. I felt Garrett's hand shaking within my own, but didn't trust my voice.

As my eyes adjusted, I studied his face. We were still standing in the hidden doorway, not fully in or out of the tunnel. He let go of my hand, and I hung back, giving him space to face his past.

After a few uncertain steps, Garrett slowly walked down the rows of stalls. One horse nipped at him as he walked, and he stalled, reaching a trembling hand to the beast's head. The horse leaned his head down into Garrett's hand, and Garrett bowed his own head.

I felt tears running down my cheeks. After mourning my father, tears had been rare for me. But ever since leaving my mother after Ruber invaded our home, they were now a frequent occurrence.

With a final pat on the horse's nose, Garrett turned back to me. "Let's go," he said softly, and I realized that his sightless grey eyes were shining with unshed tears.

This man, who survived on his own in a wild, unpredictable forest and needed no one, was letting me see the most vulnerable side of himself.

We exited the stables and started to walk back towards the castle, neither of us speaking, when Garrett paused and pulled me into a quiet alley, surprising me yet again.

I realized that the sun had set, and remembered that I had wanted to have a discussion about the future with him. That would have to wait, I supposed. I didn't want to push him further after what he had just allowed me to witness.

Placing one hand on the small of my back, Garrett cupped my cheek with the other. "I know I've already thanked you for everything. But thank you. I've been holding back from you because I was holding on to old fears. I don't want to let the past control me anymore."

I studied his face as he spoke. He looked far more relaxed than I had ever seen him. I started to respond, but he held a finger to my lips and shook his head. That finger traced my lips and I felt my face heat.

"I've waited long enough to say this," he said in a low voice I didn't recognize that made my heart start beating faster. I had known how I felt about him, and hoped he felt the same, but my breath still caught when he pulled me closer. "I love you."

Three words. I had been hoping to have an in-depth conversation, but those three words were all I needed in that moment. I leaned in so that he could feel my lips against his ear and returned the words. Overcome, we held onto each other, his lips finding mine with a sigh.

The future wasn't exactly certain, but for now we were right where we needed to be.