Okay so this really was only supposed to help me get over writer's block, but then I got so caught up in that I just could leave it alone and this is what happened. So I figured I'd post it anyway. Enjoy! Feel free to review if you want and if not well I'm not forcing you. This was just a random story that was inspired by the song Shattered by Trading Yesterday. If you ever get a chance look up the MTT version on youtube.
~ You Raise Me Up
***
1 – Yesterday I Died Tomorrow's Bleeding
Her ocean colored eyes scanned the gloomy horizon. The mist covered the snow capped mountains to the west and the foggy valleys to the east were stretched out before her like a painted canvas. There would be no sunset tonight, just like any other night on this cold, dreary, godforsaken island. The fog and clouds made it next to impossible. A light breeze made its way across the valley before it hit her, tossing her blonde hair lightly in the wind. She shivered slightly. It was going to be cold tonight that much was for sure.
She patted Aidan's black, velvety neck. "We better get back," the young woman said, wheeling the stallion around and kicking him into a steady gallop. The other knights sat round a roaring fire, drinking and jesting as they did every night. She tied her black stallion with the other horses and took her place beside Gawain.
"Ah, finally decided to join us, Cara?" Bors asked, trying to be cheery despite the dreary surroundings.
"Yeah," she responded. Cara glanced at the knights that sat around the fire and it was no surprise that Tristan was the only one missing. "Tristan still not back yet?" she asked, holding her hands over the fire. They were red and raw from the cold.
"Nah," Galahad said, throwing another stick into the flames, "he's still out scouting." Cara nodded. She was a scout just as Tristan was; only she was much more open than he and not nearly as quiet.
"Perhaps you should invest in a pair of gloves next time we are at the wall," Gawain suggested, nodding toward her red hands. Cara shook her head rejecting the idea, rubbing her numb hands together vigorously over the fire.
"They make the reins slick, I'm better off without them." Gawain shook his head in disagreement.
"When you lose a couple fingers to frostbite then you'll wish you had 'em," he pointed out. Cara giggled. "I don't see what's funny about losing a couple fingers," he muttered seriously.
"Dear Gawain, if and when I lose my fingers then you can say 'I told ya so." Gawain shook his head at her. She was a smart girl, but when it came to certain things she was stubborn as a mule and all the knights were sure that her stubbornness would be her downfall.
The fire was warm against her skin and it was already turning back to its fleshy color. It illuminated the tattoo that encircled her right wrist. It was a band of stars and right in the center was a single rose. The leaves and vines of the rose connected the stars in a decorative pattern and the fire seemed to make the rose glow. She was from the same tribe as Tristan, though the tattoos for women and girls ranged from different designs.
Tristan's design was that of a warrior and it was chosen because that's exactly what he was. He was a soldier hardened by war and death. Cara, on the other hand, was seen as a ray of hope. The stars symbolized a never-ending darkness that loomed over the land, while the rose represented a single shred of light. It was a light even in the darkest of times and it was fitting for Cara because even when times were hard she could always find something to smile about.
The knights had seen her tattoo several times in the past 14 almost 15 years they had been serving together. According to them Cara lived up to the symbolic tattoo. Even now as she sat in the dark with a light rain falling from the grey sky, she was smiling. Kay and Gareth sat across the fire and watched Cara intently. She was spacing out again.
FLASHBACK
"It's beautiful," the young girl exclaimed, examining the new ink that decorated her fair skin. She twisted her wrist around as far as she could to see the complete design. The rose and stars were breathtaking and the detail on the rose was exquisite.
"Not nearly as beautiful as you," an older man countered, giving her a small kiss on her forehead and ruffling her blonde hair. "No matter where you go you remember one thing. You remember that even in your darkest moments there is always a light. All you have to do is find it."
"I'll remember, Papa" the girl promised. She received another hug from her loving father.
"That's my Cara."
END FLASHBACK
"Cara," Kay said waving a hand in the air, trying to get her attention. Her eyes only stared into the flames. "Cara," he tried again. Gawain shook her.
"What?" she asked, raising her head quickly? This earned her a few chuckles from the other knights, including Arthur.
"You were spacing out again," Gawain said. Cara hung her head.
"Sorry, I was just thinking." Cara shook her head, trying to rid herself of the memories.
"About me?" Lancelot asked seductively as he settled himself close beside her. Cara gave him a whack over the head playfully.
"You wish," she answered, eyeing him up and down with a disgusted face. Lancelot's grin turned upside down and the other knights around the fire laughed. A cold chill spread over the land and Cara went to Aidan to retrieve her blanket. Without thinking, she began to sing.
Aidan snorted at her approach, but she still sang. In fact she almost started to dance, but a voice interrupted her. "You shouldn't sing such beautiful song," a voice said from behind her. Cara whipped her head around to look at Gareth.
"What's that supposed to mean?" she asked, hurt and anger in her eyes. Sure, her singing wasn't all that great, but she didn't think she was that bad. She clenched the blanket in her hands in anger. Gareth's face was mere inches from hers.
"A beautiful voice mixed with a beautiful song will bring every living being to the source and I don't really want to meet up with a stray Woad or Saxon tonight," he said, stoking her cheek lovingly. Their foreheads were touching now and their lips were close, so close.
An incoming rider, however, interrupted their moment and both Cara and Gareth looked to see who it was. Tristan's majestic grey was already in place beside Cara's horse and the silent scout silently dismounted, tended to his horse, and took his place by the fire, leaving the lovers behind.
"Where were we?" Gareth asked, focusing his attention back on Cara.
"I'm believe that you were about to kiss me, Sir Knight," she stated with a small smile.
"Was I now," Gareth said with a smile of his own. Once again their foreheads touched and their lips were close. Only millimeters separated them from one another. At last they touched and it felt like magic. The kiss ended after a moment and both Gareth and Cara pulled away from one another.
They were now at least a foot apart and Gareth followed Cara back to the fire. She sat in between Gareth and Galahad with the blanket wrapped snugly around her. She never could understand why the men never got cold. She was freezing and she had on more layers than any of them.
"Cold, Cara?" Bors asked heartily, from across the fire.
"Just a bit," Cara stated in the same tone. There was no point in lying when she had the blanket wrapped so tightly around her.
"I'd say more than a bit," Merrick said under his breath. The girl sent him a glare, but otherwise ignored his comment.
"Why don't you come to bed with me and let me warm you up?" Lancelot asked. His lips only inches from her ear. Cara pulled her arms out from underneath the blanket quickly and shoved the flirtatious knight away from her.
"I'd rather freeze to death than sleep with you," she stated strongly. The knights around the fire only chuckled and Lancelot resumed his position beside Arthur. For the second time that night his mischievous smile had turned upside down and he frowned in mock hurt. Cara stole a glance at Gareth and was surprised. The dark haired knight was glaring at Lancelot. Surely he knew Lancelot was only jesting. Cara never figured Gareth for a jealous person, but it was written all over his features.