AN: Thank you for all the reviews, I'll keep writing for you guys!
Chapter Two
Win, Win Situation
Tristan's visits stopped that day, well at least the ones during the day. He snuck into Liara's room at night to watch her sleep. With each day she grew healthier and her stomach grew as well. Soon her belly would be too large to hide and then she would have to deal with the whispers.
That was one of the many things Tristan hated about civilized culture, they gossiped too much. Their noses buried in places it shouldn't be. He felt pity for Liara once again, for the looks she would have to endure and the words she would have to ignore for being someone's whore.
After she was cleared by the healer, Vanora helped her set up the apartment above the Tavern, fit for her and her baby. She still hadn't much of a pregnant belly, but her morning sickness had faded so it was any day before she woke up with a bulging stomach. She worked as soon as she was allowed and never complained. The other women piled jobs on her and she did them without question or excuses. Tristan still watched her from afar. He was fascinated by her, though he wouldn't admit it.
One day Liara was working in the Tavern as a favor to Vanora and all the living knights sat at their normal table, sans Tristan who pulled a chair into a dark corner and watched everyone else get drunk. Vanora walked over to the silent scout with a weary face. She prayed to the gods he was in a good mood.
"Tristan, what are the limits of favors for you?" Vanora asked suddenly, not a moment after she approached the knight.
"You're stuck with Bors." Tristan grumbled dryly before taking a bite out of his blood red apple.
"Smart mouthed are we?" She asked with surprise in her voice, and then went back to business. "Honestly," she said pleadingly.
"What's the favor?" He asked with a small sigh.
"Liara is a quiet and scared girl. I am worried for her. She needs someone to look after her, to take care of her." She said worryingly.
"Why are you asking me?" He asked sharply.
"Because you don't care what happens to your future." She snapped bluntly. "I know you would protect her, and not force her to do anything she didn't want." Her tone turned soft.
"Galahad-" He started. He would have suggested Gawain if had not married just a week earlier.
"-Is in love with Maeve," She finished stubbornly. She sighed and rested her hands on her small waist. "Tristan, it's nothing that would hurt you and your plans." She said softly then turned walked back for the bar.
Tristan thought over the proposition Vanora had just given him as Liara walked out from the kitchen with a tray of ale's. She wore a dark green dress that covered her bump moderately well. She had filled out by now, but was still on the slim side for her size. Her hair was pinned up in a braided bun, with little tendrils falling down into her face constantly. Her face was blank, no emotion, her eyes were stone hiding anything she was feeling. It unnerved him seeing someone could hide their emotions just as well as he could.
She walked back toward the kitchen and he stood up abruptly and followed her to the back. Once the door shut she turned around to face him.
"Yes?" She asked gently. Tristan saw Vanora out of the corner of his eye with a relieved smile.
"We need to talk." Tristan said with an empty voice and led her further into the kitchen, away from the loud bar. "Marry me," He said after a few moments.
"Excuse me?" She choked out.
"I need someone to run my home; you need someone to protect you." He said blankly. She opened and closed her mouth many times, like a fish out of water. She was caught off guard. She expected to spend the rest of her life alone, with her child. Not being a high ranking knight's wife.
"I-" She stammered unsure of what to do.
"I won't hurt you." He said slowly, making sure the truth was heard in his voice. She looked up at him with sad eyes.
"Promise?" she murmured painfully.
"On my honor." He said holding his hand to his heart.
"What about my baby?" She asked holding her large bump.
He looked down at her hands then back to her crystal green eyes. "It's yours, do what you want with it." He said with a shrug. Even though he was insensitive about the matter she still felt relieved.
"When?" She asked softly. He thought for a moment, thinking of how fast he could plan this entire thing.
"Tomorrow," He said blankly. "There won't be a party, or flowers and such. Just you, me and a priest from Sarmatia." He murmured.
"Alright," She said almost dreamily.
"'Til then," He said with a small bow then snuck out the back door.
His mind and heart raced, though he didn't know why. It was a sensible choice. He had a large house Arthur had built for him like all the other knights that needed a mistress. She needed a husband to keep her and her child safe. It was perfect. They both got something from it without having to deal with pitiful emotions he had cast away many years ago.
He found a priest that was from Sarmatia, his tribe had been wiped out, and made the time to be married, at sunset, the edge of the forest. His heart stung when he thought of his brothers in arms, and not telling them about this little arrangement. But it wasn't anything meaningful in his eyes, so why should they know.
After talking himself out of his heart ache he went to his empty house. Arthur asked where his men would like their homes, Gawain, Bors and himself asked for their homes outside of city, to the south and as close to the woods as possible. While Lancelot and Galahad stayed inside the wall, closer to the city. His home was a brisk walk from Gawain's that was what he liked most about it. Gawain didn't ask stupid questions, unless he was drunk, he spoke of things Tristan would actually speak about, like weapons.
His home had five bedrooms, he didn't know why, Arthur must have diluted himself into thinking Tristan would marry and have a family. But as irony has it, he would. He was going to be married and have a child. His brows knitted together. It wasn't his child. It was just going to be his by name not blood. He trudged on before coming to his house, no gardens like Bors and Gawain's yard. But then again they had women to fuss with that.
He opened the heavy wooden door and looked into the dark place. He had no servants or slaves, none of the knights did since they were all slaves themselves. Vanora had live in help, but she was paid a nice sum to help with the thirteen children. Tristan had always hated his house, it was too empty. He hoped Liara would somehow change that.
The morning came and Tristan rose before the sun, like always. He went out for a ride with his horse Mordren, scouting and checking in with the several hidden posts that guarded the city. After he went back to his house, which was still dark though the sun had been awake for over an hour and bathed.
He trudged into the city, wearily, the weight of the day finally hitting him. Today he was not going to be a loner anymore. He was going to be someone's husband, someone's father. He mentally berated himself, it wasn't his child.
The day dragged on. The meetings and training classes seemed as long as a fortnight. His patience was wearing thin and all he wanted was the day to be over. Once all of his High knight duties were done he went back to his cold, dark, empty house and changed into his good clothes. He didn't like them. It made him look too much like a Roman.
He took Mordren back into the city and rode him all the way to the Tavern. Luckily Vanora was outside.
"Well Tristan don't you look dashing." Vanora said with a wide devilish grin.
"Tell her the West edge of the forest at sunset." Tristan said blankly and rode off.
He got to the spot early, tied Mordren to one of the trees and waited for the sun to fall from its perch. Time seemed to go faster than it had all day. The priest Egean showed up just before the slowly falling sun splashed the sky with orange's and reds. They waited for Liara in silence. The sun started to fall further and he started to become angered.
Before he could stomp off, she walked around a barn in a creamy white gown. The dress fit tight to her body, her pregnancy bump out on display, her hair down in slightly tamed curls that caught the setting light perfectly. She walked up to them slowly with her head down before looking up at Tristan, her stunning green eyes glistening with nervousness.
"Are you two ready?" Egean asked excitingly.
"Yes," Tristan answered bluntly. She nodded.
Egean started with the traditional ceremony while Liara and Tristan zoned out. Both thinking about how this would change their lives. Both of them petrified of the unknown. Before they knew it Egean was done.
"You may now kiss your bride." Egean said with a satisfied smile. Liara blushed and looked down. Tristan swallowed his mixed feelings and took her chin in his hand, lifted it and covered her mouth with his.
The kiss was light and gentle, nothing evasive or deep. Liara shuddered at the feel of his full soft lips pressing against hers. Tristan felt a layer of ice that covered his heart melt away, and he pulled away abruptly.
"Congratulations, you are husband and wife. I wish you both a happy life." Egean said happily before walking back to the city.
"Come on," Tristan said huskily, taking her small hand in his and leading her to Mordren. He helped her on the beast then swung on gracefully behind her.
They rode quietly back to his – their – house. She kept one hand on the horn of the saddle and one hand on her stomach, her body was stiff as Tristan held her hip to keep her in place. The ride back was unnerving to say the least. Tristan was starting to regret his decision.
They passed Bors and Gawain's house and stopped a few feet before the last house, their home. Tristan walked Mordren to the small stable while Liara stood admiring the house.
"It's beautiful," Liara said when Tristan came back to the front of the house.
"It's too big." Tristan growled stomping for the large door.
"No," Liara said quietly, Tristan peeked over his shoulder. "It's perfect." She said with a dreamy smile. Tristan pushed the door open and motioned for Liara to go in, she did. She stopped a few feet in the house while Tristan closed and locked the door.
"Can you run a house?" He asked accusingly as he watched her take in the house.
"Yes," she said quietly, almost obediently. Tristan walked around her and strode up the first few stairs of the steps then looked down at her.
"Your bedroom is upstairs, the door at the end of the hallway." He said in his normal empty voice. She smiled a small smile.
"Thank you," She said with a small bow. Tristan swallowed a snarl and strode up the rest of the stairs. He didn't want to her to think he was her master.
As Tristan crawled into bed he felt an air of relief. The looming emptiness of the house had seemed to go, but something still felt wrong. He scowled at the ceiling, it was him. He was going to have to tell his brothers in the morning that he had a wife, soon a child, if Vanora hadn't beat him too it.
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