Have Faith in Me

by scratchtheplans

Sequel to "Your Tears Are Empty". The knights thought their days of war were over, but the most perilous had yet to come. This last mission will have them racing against time itself, fighting enemies that outnumber them by the thousands. Aderyn always knew there was a chance that she could lose Tristan, but now that possibility has become far too real.

1. I Won't Give Up

Well, hello there! If you've been reading my updates on my profile, I bet you weren't expecting to hear from me too soon. Turns out I was too excited about starting the sequel to hold off until I finished chapter five. Oops. So this is coming your way as I start chapter four due to my complete and utter lack of self-control. :D

For those of you who just stumbled upon this in the KA category, you should know this is a sequel to "Your Tears Are Empty", a fic I wrote about a year ago, and some of this might not make sense to you unless you read that one first. I'm trying my best to explain things so that you don't have to, but it might be best if you just saved yourself the confusion and read the prequel first.

So the song I posted before this is the entire inspiration for this fic. It was the bg music in the trailer I posted on my tumblr, and it's (obviously) the name of the fic as well. It's one of my favorites of all time. So yeah, shameless plugging for A Day to Remember, lol.

I won't keep you any longer then, ONTO THE LONG-AWAITED SEQUEL!

"When I look into your eyes, it's like watching the night sky or a beautiful sunrise. There's so much they hold. And just like them old stars, I see that you've come so far to be right where you are. How old is your soul? Well, I won't give up on us even if the skies get rough. I'm giving you all my love. I'm still looking up. And when you're needing your space to do some navigating, I'll be here patiently waiting to see what you find. 'Cause even the stars, they burn. Some even fall to the earth. We've got a lot to learn. God knows we're worth it. No, I won't give up."-Jason Mraz

*+*Aderyn*+*

Orange light burned through my closed eyelids, bringing me to wakefulness. I kept them closed, stretching my legs and wiggling my toes. The heat of the sunlight coming into my bedroom from the window warmed my skin, and an overwhelming sense of contentment filled me. This had the makings for a perfect morning, but I couldn't escape the feeling that something was missing…

My right arm reached over, seeking the other side of the bed. When all my hand met was cold sheets, I finally opened my eyes. Finally the emptiness made sense. I was alone.

I frowned for a moment, wondering where Tristan was, until I remembered that he had patrol duty with Bors this morning. I never liked waking up without him. There was something particularly soothing about waking up with someone you love beside you. I've been experiencing it every morning for nearly three months, so I've become a bit spoiled.

It was hard to believe that I'd already spent several months at Hadrian's Wall. Sometimes it all felt too good to be true, and I would expect to wake up from this wonderful dream. So far it proved to be all reality, and it was hard to explain just how happy that made me. I often wondered how I'd ever lived a life without Tristan, Naveen, Elaine, and all of the other people I've become close with since leaving my seclusion in the forest. My past with my family and Drenna sometimes seems like a story someone told me rather than experiences of my own. Although I would love to still have them all with me, I've finally come to accept their deaths. With my acceptance came a freedom that I would never have imagined existed. I was beatific all the time now, something I never thought I could be before I left my house in the forest.

I sat up and threw my legs over the side of the bed, running a hand through my tangled hair. As I picked up my discarded shift from the floor, I thought of the activities that lead to it ending up on the floor last night and felt my cheeks begin to burn. Tristan and I began an intimate relationship a month ago at the celebration for my first two months at the Wall, but the novelty of it had yet to wear off. We've spent every night since that one molded together beneath our sheets like we would die if we were separated. The act itself was incredible, but whenever I found myself thinking about it, I always reacted like a young girl, giggling and blushing. Naveen took every opportunity to evoke this reaction from me, and then teased me relentlessly about it.

I tugged the shift over my head, and went to the wash basin to clean myself up. I cursed when I stubbed my toe on Tristan's armor stand. A week ago I'd relocated all of my belongings to his room, and I wasn't used to the arrangement yet. The occasional pain of a stubbed toe and bruised elbow were perfectly bearable when the payment was having Tristan with me every night.

After I scrubbed my skin, I pulled my hair to the side and plaited it to keep it out of my way, and then checked my reflection in the water. My face, albeit plain, was filled with distinctive features: large blue eyes, pale skin sprinkled with freckles across my cheeks and nose, plump lips, and a scar that ran from the outside corner of my eye to the corner of my mouth in the shape of a crescent moon. The mark had faded a lot since it was given to me by a Saxon three months ago. Instead of the raised, angry pink flesh, it was just a silvery line. It still jumped out as the most noticeable aspect on my face, but it was nowhere near as horrendous as it used to be.

I decided I was satisfied with my hair, and pulled on a dark green dress with laces from the wrists to the elbows. I tied the sleeves up, and then pulled on my boots. My sword was next, buckled at my hip. I didn't have to work at the stables today, so I was free until my shift at the tavern later that night. I probably should have relished a day where I didn't have to work both of my jobs, but I always became bored when I had nothing to do. To me, it was unnecessary to have days off when I actually wanted to work, but Jols, Vanora, and Tristan all agreed that I should not try and overwork myself. What they didn't know was that the tasks they gave me were much simpler compared to the work I used to have to do every day when I lived alone. Whenever I tried to explain that to them, they would hear nothing of it, so I gave up and complied with their request.

Once I was decent, I left my room to go get some breakfast at the tavern. After that I figured I'd go see Egryn and maybe ride out to the forest and pick some fruit from the only apple tree nearby. I knew Egryn would appreciate the attention. Ever since we moved to the Wall, I had a feeling he might think I was neglecting him. We used to spend nearly every waking minute together, but here that was impossible because the streets were too small for him to follow me everywhere. I missed him. He may be a horse, but he was my best and only friend for over a decade. I understood him better than I understood most people around here.

I stepped out of the shadow of the Keep and into the courtyard. For a moment I just stood still with my face pointed towards the sky, relishing in the sunlight. Sun was unusual amongst the heavy clouds that normally hung over Briton like a plague. It would most likely be our last warm day until spring, and I planned to soak in as much of it as possible before the sun disappeared again.

I began walking towards the tavern with a bit of a skip in my step. I was finally able to get around without needing a guide. The layout was pretty clear in my mind now, although there were some hazy spots. My basic knowledge of the heart of the fort was all I really needed, considering that was where I remained most of the time. The only time I ventured further was when I was riding Egryn out to the forest or Vanora sent me on an errand for her.

Some of the people I passed still gave me dirty looks. They thought I didn't belong here, but I stopped allowing them to bother me. The truth was that I belonged wherever Tristan was, and if he was here, than I should be here too. The things people said to me could sometimes make me feel a little down, but I just had to remember that I had plenty of people who cared about me now and the people who didn't weren't worth my time, a lesson that was ingrained forcefully into my mind by Vanora.

I finally arrived at the tavern, and strode right up to the bar at the back. Naveen was alone there, scrubbing out a large pot with the sleeves of her dress pushed up to her elbows. She was my closest friend, and possibly the most beautiful woman in the entire fort. With little to no effort, she managed to look like a goddess, even when she was cursing at men in the tavern or washing the floors. She never let it go to her head either, and managed to be a very down-to-earth person with a witty sense of humor. I was glad she'd decided to take me under her wing.

Naveen glanced up when I sat down at a stool, and wiped her forehead on her forearm. "Morning, Addi," she greeted.

"Morning," I responded.

"I made you a plate," she informed me. "It's that one right there."

She pointed to a plate filled with a chunk of bread, a sliced apple, and a piece of some sort of baked pastry with what looked like cherries in the center. I slid the dish toward me, and asked, "What is this, with the cherries?"

"Oh, it's just something Elaine bakes from time to time," she replied, shoulder deep in the pot she was cleaning. "Try it! It is really good."

I took a small bite, and was shocked at what I tasted. "I didn't know Elaine could cook so well!" I exclaimed, taking another huge bite. It was delicious, sweet and warm. It was like nothing I'd ever eaten.

"Thank you," mumbled a voice behind me.

I turned around, and saw Elaine behind me, smiling softly. Naveen introduced Elaine and I after I started working at the tavern. They were roommates in a flat on the side of the fort where the domestic dwellings were. Elaine was an unassuming girl despite her many talents, and was extremely shy and soft spoken. Her one major flaw was her undying love for Lancelot, a man with whom she'd never actually had a full conversation with. She could not be persuaded away from him no matter the argument, which led to a never-ending heartache for her that was hard to watch.

"Elaine, this is fantastic," I told her, finishing off the pastry. "You should open a bakery."

She blushed, and smiled at me as she walked around to the opposite side of the bar. "Oh no," she replied. "I could never. My employees would never listen to me."

"Of course they would," Naveen said as she set the pot on a rack to dry. "If not, Addi and I would use physical persuasion." She smacked her fist into her opposite hand to demonstrate her point.

"You would not," Elaine said, pointing sternly at her friend. "That would not be very nice."

"Neither is disobeying your boss."

"You do it all the time," I pointed out.

Naveen appeared to think about it, and then said, "But there isn't anyone around who will beat me into submission. See? No repercussions and BAM," she slammed her fist onto the counter for emphasis, "anarchy!"

"I have to admit, I don't understand half of what you say, Naveen," I admitted with a shake of my head.

"That's alright. No one does," she replied with a wink, grabbing a pitcher to go and refill the few customers' cups.

Elaine sighed once she was gone. "I worry about her, I really do."

"Worry about who?" Galahad asked, plopping down into the seat next to me, and grabbing an apple slice from my plate. He flashed me a boyish smile and crammed it into his mouth when I tried to take it back.

"You," I responded agitatedly, "because you're a thief, and thieves get punished."

He swallowed the fruit before asking, "What are you going to do, sick Tristan on me?"

"No," I snapped. "I can take you myself."

Galahad laughed, long and boisterously as I glared at him with my arms folded over my chest. I waited until his amusement died down, and then asked, "What, may I ask, is so funny about that?"

"You are so small I can see clear over your head when you stand in front of me, yet you think you could defeat me in a duel? Unlikely."

"We shall see about that," I said, "because I'll be seeing you on the training grounds after I finish eating. We can settle this today."

For a moment he looked surprised, and then a devilish smile curled up the corners of his mouth. "Alright. And what do I get if I win?"

"The right to say that you have never been beaten by a woman," I responded.

"Untrue," said Gawain, popping up out of nowhere and sitting on the other side of Galahad. "Vanora's given him a beating or two over the years."

I laughed as Galahad fixed Gawain with a sour look. "You act like she never hit you with that damn spoon."

"I never said that," Gawain replied, grabbing a chunk of bread from a plate behind the bar. "I am man enough to admit that Vanora scares the daylights out of me."

I swallowed my last bite of food, and pushed my empty plate away from me as I stood up. "Ready to embarrass yourself, Galahad?" I asked.

"I won't be the embarrassed one when we're done," he quipped, standing with me. "Coming, Gawain?"

"Miss a chance to see you get your ass handed to you by a small woman? Never," the blonde knight answered, standing to follow us.

As we walked out of the bar, Naveen glanced up and noticed Gawain. She was so intent on watching him that she didn't even notice the mug she was filling was overflowing, and the man it belonged to was frantically trying to mop up the excess. Naveen was about as infatuated with Gawain as Elaine was with Lancelot. I just so happened to know that Gawain liked her just as much, he just hadn't realized it yet. He would eventually, of that I was sure.

The training grounds were situated on the outskirts of the fort; a fenced-in rectangular area often crowded with men testing their strengths. It was only a short walk from the tavern, so we arrived there within a few minutes. There were targets set up for archery, dummies for practicing dagger-tossing, and plenty of room to spar. The grass had thinned in circular patches, having been trodden under foot so many times that it simply gave up on growing. Those brown spots were where the sword sparring took place. The remaining healthy grass surrounding those areas acted as a barrier to keep fights from running into each other. If you stepped out of your tract, you were admitting defeat. It was all quite orderly, which was ironic to me. Battle was anything but trim and tidy, so it struck me as odd that training should be so.

As we neared the last unoccupied circle to begin our fight, Gawain cupped his hands around his mouth, and called out, "Arthur! Lancelot!"

I followed his line of sight, and found the half-Briton, half-Roman commander of the Sarmatian knights and his second-in-command sparring a little ways away. They stopped when they heard their names called, and sheathed their weapons to come and meet us.

"Gawain, Galahad, Aderyn," Arthur said in greeting, smiling slightly. His brown hair was stuck to his forehead with sweat from his training with Lancelot, and he was dressed less formally than I was used to, in dark brown leather breeches and a washed out red tunic. Although he seemed to be content, Arthur always had this air about him that suggested he was brooding deeply over something. I always assumed it was his homesickness. He yearned for Rome, gods know why. Tristan told me he would go there once their service time was up in a week. Perhaps he would be able to truly be happy once he was there.

"Arthur," Gawain, Galahad, and I chorused.

"Morning," Lancelot said, smiling at Gawain and Galahad. Once his eyes landed on me, something in his eyes hardened, though his smile remained. I did not return the gesture.

Lancelot and I had a complicated acquaintance. The first time we met, he killed Drenna, the Woad woman who raised me from the time I was ten winters old, after my parents and siblings were murdered in a brutal attack by some nomadic barbarians. A Woad attacked Tristan against her orders, and when she went to cut the man down, Lancelot shot her thinking she was going after Tristan. I understand that Lancelot thought he was saving his friend, but I still can't find it in me to forgive him even though he's apologized to me. We both tend to tiptoe around each other instead of making any moves to resolve our silent feud.

"What are you three doing up here so early?" Arthur asked.

"Galahad has developed too big of an ego," I informed the commander with a grin. "I plan to knock him down a few pegs."

Arthur chuckled, and held his arm out towards the empty sparring patch. "By all means, please do," he said.

I stepped past the men, and took my place on the other side of the brown piece of earth. I unbuckled my sheath from my waist and withdrew my sword from it before tossing it to the side. I twirled it expertly in my hand as Galahad shed himself of his own scabbard, adding his cloak and bow to the pile as well. He stood across from me, and smiled lazily.

"Do you really expect to beat me in that thing?" he asked, nodding at my dress.

I began to circle Galahad casually, acting as if I were already bored with this. "A lady can do anything in a dress just as well as she could naked."

He lashed out with his short sword, and our blades met in the middle with the ring of steel on steel. He smirked at me over our poised weapons, and said, "But I would much prefer you naked." A chorus of laughter sounded from the small ring of spectators we'd already gained.

"Trust me, Sir Galahad," I replied playfully, "the sight would be too much for a mere boy like you to handle."

Another round of laughter and an appreciative whoop from Gawain followed my jest. Galahad frowned, and pushed away from me. We began to circle again, and I couldn't hide my exhilarated smile. I hadn't been truly challenged sparring in a long time. Drenna and I became so used to each other's movements and tricks that our fights were dull long before she died. Tristan and I sparred every once in awhile, but I always had a nagging feeling that he let me win whenever I triumphed, though he denied it. This time I knew for certain that that my opponent wouldn't hand me a win, and I didn't know enough about Galahad's fighting style to trick a victory from him. No, this fight would all go to whoever had more skill, a true sparring match. Adrenaline pulsed in my veins, and I laughed as Galahad came at me again.

I parried the blow easily, and then danced out of Galahad's reach. Just as he aimed for my shoulder, I ducked and jabbed for his knees. He sidestepped just in time, swinging his sword down at me in synchronization with the movement. I flattened myself to the ground to avoid the blow, and then rolled to dodge a third one. His sword smacked harmlessly into the ground where my chest had been a moment ago, and I sprang to my feet in a defensive position, grinning at the frustrated expression on the young knight's face.

The crowd around us had grown to twice its original size. Ours was the only fight going on now, as all of the other men had stopped their duels to watch Galahad and I. It was a rare thing to see a knight and a Briton participating in a fight that wouldn't end in death.

This time I made the first move, stabbing towards Galahad's right arm. He lurched to the side, and swung forcefully towards my neck. I bent sideways just before the blade could make contact.

"Easy, Galahad!" I heard Arthur shout.

"You're not actually trying to kill her!" Gawain reminded him.

Neither of us paid them any mind as we began a complex series of maneuvers in which we both came so close to hitting the other that Galahad ripped a hole in the skirt of my dress and I snipped off one of his curls. Sweat finally broke out on my brow as I stepped back again, attempting to gain my bearings. Galahad adopted a defensive position, his knees bent, preparing for my next attack. I eyed his stance speculatively, looking for any flaws in his stance, but there were none. The knights were trained well and had far too much natural talent to have noticeable inadequacies in their fighting styles. I did notice how he lead with his left side, and decided what to do on a whim.

I feinted towards the left, but quickly reversed towards the right when he made to block. Unfortunately he noticed what I was doing at the last second, and swerved out of my way so that only the tip of my blade grazed his ribcage. He laughed at my frustrated expression, and then leapt forward when I wasn't expecting it. Our blades clashed in between us with a grating sound that made me wince, and he pushed his weight against me, using it to his advantage. I strained against him, but it was a losing battle. Galahad was a lot stronger than me, but I was much more agile. I just needed a way out of this hold.

My eyes skimmed over him frantically, attempting to find any means to beat him, but my thoughts jumbled up in my desperation. I took a deep breath, and blocked out the sounds of the cheering men, Galahad's triumphant smile, and the pain in my overtaxed muscles. I focused on what Drenna taught me: stay calm, and think rationally.

My eyes trailed down to Galahad's legs, and I noticed how all of his weight was on his left one. I looked up at him, and smiled serenely, knowing exactly what to do now.

Galahad was leaning over me, forcing me into a backbend with his weight. I slid my left foot back to stabilize myself, and then hooked my right foot behind his knee. I saw the surprise flit across his face a split second before I wrenched his leg forward. He fell face first, and I managed to leap forward just before he pulled me down with him.

He scrambled to his knees, but it was too late. My sword was pointed between his eyes, and I smiled down at him in victory. Cheers broke out from the spectators, but Galahad scowled at me.

"You cheated!" he accused.

Gawain came over and clapped a hand on my shoulder. "She beat you fair and square, Galahad. Don't be a spoilsport! Take it like a man!"

I lowered my sword, and Galahad stood. For a second his face was torn, but then he smiled (albeit, a bit reluctantly) and held out a hand to me. "You are certainly a lot better than I thought you would be," he admitted.

"I shall take that as a compliment," I responded with a laugh.

Arthur came up behind Galahad, and handed him the items he discarded before we fought. The commander offered me a congratulatory smile. "You are very talented with a sword, Aderyn," he complimented. "I would not want to be your enemy, that is for sure."

"Thank you, Arthur," I said, unsuccessfully fighting the blush creeping up my neck.

Lancelot came over then and handed me my sheath. "You fought well," he murmured with a small smirk.

I managed to nod with an uncomfortable half-smile. I returned my sword to the scabbard, and buckled it at my waist as Arthur and Lancelot took their leave to go for some ale at the tavern. I was assessing the hole in my skirt when a shadow blocked my vision. I glanced up at, and a smile broke across my face.

"Tristan!" I said happily, beaming at him. "What are you doing here?"

The corners of his lips curved up the tiniest bit. "I went to the tavern to find you, and Naveen told me you were here." He paused to move a lock of my hair that loosened during the fight out of my eyes. "I would have killed Galahad for challenging you if I didn't think he was humiliated enough from losing."

I crossed my arms indignantly. "What, did you think he actually had a chance of winning?"

He shook his head in reply, and I smiled again. I checked to make sure no one was watching us, and then put my hands on his shoulders, boosted myself onto the tips of my toes, and pressed a kiss to his lips. Once I was flat on my feet again, I rested my hands against his chest, and looked up into his golden eyes.

"I hate when you have patrol," I admitted. "The bed's always so cold."

He leaned down, and his lips brushed my ear as he whispered, "We could go change that now."

I flushed to the very roots of my hair and giggled compulsively. "But it's the middle of the day," I pointed out.

"So?"

I glanced around the field again, watching Galahad and Gawain at the archery practicing range and the other men in the sparring arenas. None of them were paying us any mind, so I grabbed Tristan's hand and began to lead him back to the main area of the fort.

/\/\/\/\/\

An hour later, Tristan and I were in our bed, a thin sheen of sweat covering our naked bodies. We lay on our sides, facing each other. My head rested on his bicep, and his other arm was thrown lazily over my waist. Both of my hands were on his chest, one of my fingers lazily tracing his collar bone. Our legs were tangled together beneath the sheets, and I felt vulnerable and utterly safe at the same time.

I could feel his potent gaze on my face, but I continued to watch my finger trail across his skin instead. Part of me wanted to ask him what was wrong, but I knew Tristan always told me what was bothering him when he was ready. I didn't want to ruin such a perfect moment by pushing him too much. He was a lot like his hawk. You had to let her come to you, or she would fly away before you had a chance to stop her.

I leaned forward, and pressed a kiss to the left side of his chest, just over his heart. As I leaned back, I finally caught his eye, and we silently stared at each other for a moment before Tristan finally relented.

"I have only days left," he reminded me.

"Yes. And then you are free."

He moved his arm from my waist, and brushed his hand through my hair. "I don't plan to return to Sarmatia."

"You don't?" I asked taken completely off guard by that admission.

"I have no desire to stay there," he answered simply. "Any family that I had was wiped out years ago. Half of my tribe was decimated by Romans a year after I was taken."

"I am so sorry, Tristan," I murmured.

"Nothing to be sorry for," he said stiffly. "I barely remember them anyway."

"So what do you plan to do?" I asked, feigning casualness while my heart beat rapidly in my chest for fear of his answer.

"What will we do," he corrected gruffly. "You will come with me."

My heart stuttered, and then began to beat so strong I feared it might explode out of my chest. He wanted me to come with him. Just me and him and all that this world had to offer.

I smiled at Tristan teasingly, unable to remain serious in my joyful mood. "Will I?" I asked. "I do not recall agreeing to such a commitment."

His eyes gleamed with an indescribable emotion as he replied, "I could take you to the sea. I know how much you want to see it. Will that convince you to agree to come?"

I shook my head slightly. "You don't need to convince me, Tristan," I said softly, averting my eyes. "I think I would follow you anywhere."

He kissed my forehead, and then my lips, softer than the brush of a feather.

"We could stay in Briton," he told me, voice so low I almost didn't catch his words. "This is your home, and I know these lands better than any other. We belong here."

I nodded, and wrapped my left arm around his waist to pull myself as close to him as I could get. I kissed his chin, and then nuzzled my face into his neck, breathing in his woodsy scent.

"I want us to stay like this," I said with my lips against his skin. "Even when we are old and wrinkled."

"We'll have to get up to get food eventually," he replied with the hint of amusement in his voice.

I pinched his side lightly. "You know know I mean," I said exasperatedly. "Not the physical way we are, but how we are with each other. If we were to ever part ways, I would want to always think about us like this."

"That will never happen," he said, his voice surprising me with its harshness. His arms tightened on me like he thought I might run off right then if he gave me enough leeway.

"I hope not," I said quietly.

I attempted to envision a future in which Tristan and I were no longer with each other. It was hard to picture, feeling only love for him in my heart. It could never be me to part us, that I knew for sure. So I delved into the image of a future in which Tristan no longer loved me and left me alone. The very idea was so painful that I pulled myself back to the present and snuggled into Tristan to chase away the vision.

There was only one thing that would happen to me if Tristan and I parted ways: a shattered heart.

So there you have it! Chapter one, yayyyyy! I hope to see some of my old reviewers return to me (hint, hint: Brandi and Kadie). As for my new lovelies, I hope you enjoyed.

So I'm thinking of having a system this time: a new chapter every Thursday unless I don't get any reviews (or there's special circumstances in which I can't update on Thursday, in which case I'll update Wednesday). Hope that's okay for everyone.

Oh, and for those of you who don't know, I made a Twitter for my ff account so that I can keep you guys even more up to date on what I'm doing. I also occasionally post previews there. ;) The URL is formyfiction, the same as my tumblr. Follow?

So yeah, I'll see you all next Thursday then! :)