No one in the room said anything, though everyone was curious. They wanted to know how it was possible to have moved Tristan to the extent that Kyna had. They wanted to know what was in that letter. For his part, Tristan pulled back from his sister's hands and looked down.
He couldn't help but notice how strong Kyna was, not just physically, but mentally, even though she'd suffered through so much. She placed a delicate hand on his arm and waited for him, or someone, to say something. It was Arthur, who decided that he would break the silence surrounding them.
"Tristan. Kyna. Perhaps you should sit down."
Again, it really wasn't meant as advice. Kyna faltered for a second; who did this Roman think he was to order them around? But she knew that he was Tristan's commander, and that something bad would happen if Tristan didn't do as he was ordered. In her mind though, she pondered on the commander.
He was giving orders, he was Roman; those things alone meant he should be hated. But the way he'd allowed Kyna and Tristan's reunion, the way he hadn't demanded an explanation was what made her falter. He clearly wasn't like the other Roman's she had known- and that was no bad thing.
But Tristan soothed her fear with a simple look, and he led her to a part of the table where there were empty seats- his own, usual seat was surround by others. So he pulled out an empty chair for her and sat down beside her, leaving his usual chair empty.
"Would you mind explaining your story?" Arthur asked Kyna.
Would I mind? He was definitely unlike the other Romans that she'd met. But Kyna pushed that thought aside and started to write again.
In case you didn't notice, I can't talk. If you want to read the letter, you may, but please allow me not to be present when you discuss it. I suffered through those things once, I don't need them repeated any more than in my nightmares.
Half-stunned as he read through Kyna's words, Arthur composed himself and nodded.
"Very well. There's a room just off this one that you can wait in."
Right. Kyna thought, as she stood and, with one last look at Tristan, left the room, taking her bag with her. Tristan wanted to follow her, yet he knew this discussion would require him to be here. She's only in the next room, he reasoned. Tristan handed the letter to Arthur, who insisted on reading the thing aloud for the whole room.
Tristan didn't want to hear it again, but he knew that he had to stay. He simply stared at the engraved round table before him as Arthur spoke. Hearing the signal of where he'd read up to, Tristan started paying more attention again.
"They cut out my tongue, brother; said that I was better silent.
It's hard to deal with. I cope. I couldn't communicate properly with anyone for two years. That was the hardest to deal with. The slavers sold me after those years, when they'd... had enough of me. The man I was... sold to... wasn't much better. Everything had just become coping by that point. Until, that is, I met another woman working in the house. She got me access to paper and taught me to write. It was like I could talk again. You have no idea what it's like for no one to be able to understand you for so long, and then to finally be heard. It's beautiful.
I left that house not long after. I didn't 'ask' to leave, I don't even know if the man who... bought me... ever even looked for me. If he did, it was probably just because he wanted to kill me for running. I spent the next few years running, doing odd jobs for money. I even bought my horse, Ivor. I did it all to search for your post; and I searched and searched until I finally found you. Just murmurs of the famous Sarmatian Knights in Britain. It was a long shot, but it was all I had. And now, as you read this, I am here, with the family I've not had for years.
Forever, your sister,
Kyna."
Arthur placed the letter on the table in front of him and let out a long sigh. The whole room was silent for a while.
"I'm sorry, Tristan," Arthur said, breaking the quiet.
"I won't keep you from your sister any longer."
He paused and then added, "Why don't you take her to Agravaine's old quarters since they are so near yours, Tristan. She can stay there. And Bors will you ask-"
"Vanora'd be happy to bring 'er some clothes and food and whatever else she wants," Bors interrupted, knowing already what Arthur would ask.
Tristan nodded and made to leave, but Dagonet's voice held him back for a moment.
"She's got a cut on her arm. I said I'd have a look at it after she'd seen you. I can do it now, or I'll wait if you'd prefer."
Tristan considered the tall Knight for a second before he nodded and replied, "Now."
No matter how much that he wanted to be alone with his sister, he put Kyna's best interests first. And her being well was far more important than anything else. Dagonet stood and nodded to the others, before leaving with the darker Knight. Tristan walked immediately to the other room across the hall and pulled open the door.
His sister was sat inside the small windowless room that was lit only by a few candles. When she saw him, Kyna smiled, but as she saw the tall Knight behind her brother, she faltered a little. Sure, he and the other, Gawain, had helped her with the Woads, and indeed, brought her to her brother. But that didn't mean that she trusted either of them.
Seeing the doubt in her expression, Tristan said in the softer voice that was reserved seemingly only for his sister, "Dagonet just wants to check your arm."
Kyna blinked. She had completely forgotten about her arm. She looked down at the cut through the ripped sleeve of her shirt. It looked as if it had stopped bleeding, and she had her doubts about the necessity of it being checked. When compared with memories that flashed through her mind of the wounds that she'd had inflicted upon her at the hands of others earlier in her life; this was nothing. A scratch.
But, if her brother was anything like she remembered, then she wouldn't get to leave this room without Dagonet making sure that she'd be fine. So Kyna nodded, and both her brother and the other Knight stepped into the small room. Dagonet asked that Kyna move closed to one of the candles lighting the room, so that he could more easily inspect the wound. She did.
"Would you mind rolling up your sleeve?" Dagonet asked, not wanting to make Kyna uncomfortable by just doing it himself.
She gave him a brief smile as she recognised his intention, before her other hand moved to push her sleeve up past the wound. Kyna hadn't really wanted to do that though. She hadn't really wanted to unveil the scars that crossed over her body in such noticeable- and unnoticeable- places. Not to her brother. Not yet.
But the scars littering just that one arm, crisscrossing angry reminders across her, drew both men's gaze. Tristan and Dagonet's eyes met. They knew what had happened to Kyna, but they hadn't imagined what had been done to her had been done as viciously and heavily as the scars proved.
The thoughts running through Tristan's mind were many and all confused; but one thing stood out; someone would pay for what they did to Kyna. Dagonet was also angered by the vicious marks marring her otherwise flawless skin. No one should have those things done to them, he thought as he turned his attention to the newest cut in her skin.
In an attempt to calm himself, Tristan leant against the back wall and watched his brother-in-arms check over his sister. He would trust no other with the care of his sister and knew her to be in very good and capable hands. But that didn't stop him from noticing that she flinched, her muscles tensing, as Dagonet reached out to touch her arm.
"Sorry," the tall Knight apologised quietly.
The woman shook her head. She knew he was being incredibly gentle for a man that had such large hands as he, and a man who looked as intimidating as he did also. But really, the only thing that was stopping her from wrenching her arm free of the Knight's grasp was because her brother was near.
Tristan wouldn't let anything happen to her. She was safe with Tristan. And that she was certain of.
"I should probably stitch it, just to make sure it doesn't get infected," Dagonet said, withdrawing his hand from Kyna's arm.
Both Knights noticed that she seemed to let out a long breath of relief as the touch was removed. Neither spoke of it though. They both knew exactly why she wouldn't want people- men, especially- touching her. The scars on her skin carried a permanent reminder of that. They were also a reminder of the fact that people could be cruel. Truly cruel.
Kyna nodded to Dagonet, though she thought it pointless. On closer examination, it appeared to be as she'd thought before; a mere scratch. But the look in Tristan's eyes told her that she was having the tiny cut stitched whether she liked it or not.
"We should go to the infirmary then," Dagonet said, as he stood and walked into the corridor.
He waited as Tristan held out a hand for his sister to help her to her feet. Kyna looked up at him as she rolled her sleeve back down, covering up the angry lines that were etched into her skin. Tristan's was the only hand that Kyna would never hesitate to take. And she reached out, placing her hand in her brother's, letting him pull her to her feet.
Tristan encircled an arm protectively over his sister's shoulder as the two men led her outside the building they were in and towards the infirmary. Kyna tried to keep her expression blank as she realised that she and her brother were receiving more than a few odd stares. She wished that they'd stop looking at her. Gods, I hate people. So much, she thought with a sigh.
When they arrived at the infirmary, the men led her inside another small room, but this one that had far more light flooding into it than the previous. Tristan stopped beside an almost rigid-looking bed, and Kyna took that as an indication that she was meant to take a seat.
As she did, Dagonet brought over some medical supplies that he'd gathered from the shelf on the far wall. Kyna stared at the objects as he placed them on the table beside her. She watched as he threaded the curved needle and moved to place it near her skin. But Kyna tensed and looked away; she didn't have good experiences with sharp objects meeting her skin.
But she barely felt the tiny prick of the needle as Dagonet worked it so expertly and delicately to close the wound. Kyna felt the Knight's hand leave her arm again though, and with great relief, she tilted her head to the side as she looked over to him through a few strands of her dark brown hair that had fallen across her face. With that, Dagonet couldn't help but see similarity in the siblings.
"You should be fine," Dagonet said as he moved back from the woman, giving her back her personal space.
"I'll leave you two," he added as he slipped through the door.
Tristan gave his fellow Knight a grateful stare before he disappeared and placed a hand on his shoulder. She turned her gaze to her brother and tried to give him a convincing smile. Surprisingly, it wasn't too hard to pull off. Kyna had a lot to be happy about. She was safe. But, more importantly, she'd found her brother. Finally.
"Come. I'll take you to your room."
Kyna nodded and smiled again, but still not enough to make her flash her teeth in it though. She had always been conscious not to open her mouth since it had happened. She didn't want to give anyone else nightmares like the ones that she suffered from.
After leading Kyna from the room, they walked through numerous different streets until they came across a building that looked to be like barracks. He held open the door and waited for Kyna to enter first. Tristan paused in the corridor though, and Kyna used the opportunity to look around the room. She immediately noticed the high ceiling and reddish, carpeted floor that led a pathway through it. Off the corridor though, there were four doors, equally spaced from each other.
"This room is mine," Tristan began, gesturing to the first door on their left.
"The one opposite is Dagonet's. Next to me, is Lancelot. And your room is the one that's left."
Kyna nodded slightly, but she didn't move. Tristan had made sure that she had a room, and not just that, but one that was close to his. It was more than she could ever have asked for really. And everything that everyone was doing for her- the kindness they were giving her... She just wasn't used to it.
"Kyna?"
She flashed her deep brown eyes up at her brother, and tried not to look as overwhelmed with everything as she felt. Kyna gave him another small smile, and Tristan guided her toward the room that would from now on be hers. When he pushed open the door, Kyna walked inside. Her eyes trailed over the room and its little contents.
There was a reasonable sized table that stood under the room's one small window and a single chair that was pushed up into the furthest corner of the room. What caught her eye though, was the bed in the middle of the room, covered in a sheet of dark material. It had been a long time since she'd slept in something that looked as comfortable as that looked to be.
Tristan saw his sister move over to the table and lean on it to write something on another slip of paper. Her expression was confusing, as if she could not decide what emotion that she really felt.
First; thank you. For everything.
The quiet Knight was about to answer when Kyna lowered her charcoal to the paper once more.
And now Tristan... There's not much I can say... I'm sorry about the letter- I didn't mean-
"Sorry about the letter?" Tristan interrupted in his deep, quiet voice.
"I'm sorry I wasn't there to stop what happened."
His tone was regretful; a tone that Kyna had rarely ever heard slip into her brother's voice. She shook her head at once and continued to write.
If you were there, they would have killed you. For that, at least, I am glad that you were here.
She turned back to him in time to see Tristan seem to frown. Kyna just stared at him, trying to work out what he was thinking.
It's in the past now. I'm just glad to have finally found you.
He read her words and nodded. Neither were the type of person to wallow in grief and self-pity. Both wanted to look to the now instead of the past.
What's it like here?
Kyna saw Tristan's lip twitch as he read the question. She'd seen him do that many times before; it meant that he wasn't happy, and that her question was not well received. She hadn't really expected it to be. He'd been taken from his home and forced to kill people who were simply defending theirs. Why would anyone truly like that?
"We cope," he answered simply, using the word she'd used to describe her life in her letter.
A small smile came to her lips, turning the corners upward slightly. A silent pause grew between them; him not knowing how to fill it, and her unable to.
"What happened with the Woads?" Tristan asked finally.
Kyna frowned, remembering her encounter with the blue demons that were native to the land that her brother had been sent to.
At a village I stopped in for supplies and directions, I was told that the quickest way to the Wall- to you- was through a forest, but I was warned against it. I was foolish enough not to listen to the naysayers, and rode through, thinking that I could handle myself. I was ambushed by those, what did you call them? Woads?
Tristan nodded.
I fought and killed a few but there were too many, so I tried to ride free of them. They followed me, of course. It was pure luck that those Knights, Gawain and Dagonet, found me, I think.
Tristan didn't say anything. He would always owe both Gawain and Dagonet for being there for his sister and likely saving her life. Always. Kyna paused for a moment before continuing.
I had to write that letter- before, I mean. I had to write it because I wanted you to know what happened- no matter how much it hurt- because I didn't want you to go home and never know.
She paused.
I hope that makes sense.
Tristan nodded slowly. He understood what his sister had been trying to do; he was just glad that she was still alive. Glad that he still had a part of his home left and that she was here so that he could protect her.
One thing I was a little unsure of though, was that if you'd be able to read my letter.
Tristan gave her another nod and explained, "When we were brought here, they taught us to read and write. Arthur made them; he says that all men should be equal."
It was Kyna's turn to nod though she did so a little bemusedly, now even more confused by the half-Roman, half-Briton commander that she'd only heard whisperings about. Arthur really made no sense to her. He was so unlike any other Roman that she'd met before.
"I should make sure that everything's alright with-" he began hesitantly, but stopped as Kyna nodded again.
Go. I'll stay here.
"You're sure?" Tristan asked, still reluctant to leave his sister.
Yes. I'm tired. It's been a long ride. I think I'll try to sleep for a while.
Tristan nodded, and after embracing his sister, he left the room.
"I'll return soon," was all he said before he was gone.
Kyna stared at the door as it closed, a smile playing on her lips. The woman placed her bag on the floor beside the bed and steadily moved to the side of it. As she slumped down upon the bed, Kyna couldn't remember the last time that she'd felt something so soft. She thought back to what she'd written to Tristan; "It's been a long ride."
And it really had. Not just across the country that her brother had been stationed in. But she'd really been riding since she ran from the Roman who'd bought her. And she'd finally stopped with her brother, where she should be.
She hadn't seen Tristan for almost fifteen years. And she'd missed him so much. Kyna was glad now that he had been in Britain; that he was alive. So many others weren't. Tristan was here now, and so many others weren't. She wasn't alone anymore. That in itself gave her the comfort she'd longed for since the day Tristan had been taken from their home.
For once, Kyna's life had taken a positive turn, and she realised this as she smiled into the soft, feathery pillow.
