Trust me people, there's no romance EVER between Tristan and Talin. That'd be way too wierd. Talin's past (before Tristan found her) has a lot to do with her skills. She grew up around people training in fighting, so she knew a little, but nothing about swords... so she's a born natural at a lot of things. And... we find out what Tristan REALLY WAS DOING in her room.

#4

I woke up feeling something swipe against my cheek. Startled, I sat up, and whoever it was that was next to me fell backwards over my shoes. "Bors, what're you doing in here?!" I cried, leaning over the bed to look at him. "I was going to wake you up, before you tried to ambush me!" He snarled, getting back to his feet. It was still dark out. "Wake me up? For what?" I asked, rubbing my eyes. "Don't tell me you forgot? Today's the day Tristan found you in the woods, it's your birthday!" He cried out in mock surprise.

"And... how does that involve waking me up before the sun rises?" I grumbled. "You'll see, now get up." He replied, ruffling my hair. I swatted his hand away, and then pushed him out of the room. "If you aren't out in 10 minutes I'll have Dag break down the door, you hear?" He yelled as I locked it. I smirked, and put some fresh clothes on.

Pulling my shawl off the dresser, I heard something hard hit the floor. Looking down, I saw a little stone dagger, shiny and black. It looked so familiar... the dagger I'd been wearing before Tristan found me!!! I picked it up quickly, holding it in my hands. I'd thought I lost it somewhere in the snow... how did it get here? Puzzled, but not wanting to really think about it (at the risk of having someone break down the door, I wasn't going to take long!!!) so I put it on, and rushed out the door. Oddly, Bors was there, waiting. "Come on." He said, and i followed him.

He took me to the Table room, the place i'd only been in twice after being brought into it on the first day. There was no one there until Bors said, "Happy Birthday!" Suddenly all the knights appeared, smiling, except Tristan, who just smirked a little.

So, after a full day of drinks, partying, and presents, I felt like a new person, again. So, I was 14 now. I was dancing with Galahad as one of the Bishop's musicians played a song, when I noticed something on the table wrapped in black cloth, nearly invisible to the black marble. After leaving Galahad to get a drink, I picked it up and placed it in my pocket, to look at later.

Someone tapped my shoulder. I turned, and Arthur smiled warmly at me. "A dance?" He asked, holding out a hand. I laughed a little, and nodded, and we spun around on the floor. The music changed to a lively beat, and all the knights, except Tristan, danced crazily to it, swinging each other around by their arms while drinking with the other. Tristan sat drinking, and threw knives every so often at a target board on the wall.

That night, I got walked home by my 3 brothers, and snuggled up under the covers before remembering the black object in my pocket. I dug in, and grasped it. Holding it up to the candle light, I unwrapped it, and found it to be a stone pendant, with a hole in it for the string I'd put it on. It was designed to look like a flame, made of gray slate with very vivid blue in it, and sparkles all over. I took a small string, and tied it around my wrist, knowing who it was from. Tristan had made it to be used as a weapon as well... I could cut someone easily. I smiled, and went to sleep.

(so, now we find out Tristan's reason for being in her room)

Tristan P.O.V.

In the dark of the night I slid into her room, searchign under her bed, behind her dresser, everywhere. Where was it? Then, I saw it. The book was hidden inside her pillow case. I pulled it out, and flipped through it to make sure it was the one I was looking for. It was. The book contained her thoughts from the 1st year she arrived here. She'd shown it to us at the end of the year, and we'd all read it. She had some very important things written in here I needed to see again... because now I thought maybe there could be something in there we missed that could lead us to her parents... or where she came from.

I heard her coming, and slid into the darkest corner, and waited for her breathing to slow. Then I slid out, book in hand.

Flipping through page after page, i know realized... she really does just want me to acknowlidge (sp?!) her. i sighed, and kept going. Tristan, Tristan, Tristan... my name was on every page, with her wishing I would just accept her!!! I grumbled to myself, and after a thorough reading slammed the book shut.

"I don't want to accept her... I want her to leave me alone. I can't have a kid, a girl no less, tagging along with me all the time!!!" I said aloud. I slipped back into her room, placing the book back. "Well... I could at least give her a birthday present." I thought gloomily, and headed off to get to work.

Talin P.O.V.

"Come on, Talin. You can do better than that!" Tristan scolded as I felt a searing pain slash across my arm. "I would if you'd stop cutting me limb from limb!" I growled. I tossed a dagger at him blindly, arm seemingly flopping. He easily dodged it, throwing one in return. It slashed agaisnt my leg. "Tristan, I think you've beaten her enough." Lance tried to cut in. "Not nearly enough. Now stand back or join the fight." Lance sighed, and leaned back again.

An hour later, I was barely able to get the dagger close enough for him to even dodge it. "Stop pushing yourself, Talin. Just give up." He said. "No." I gasped, throwing another one with a little more effort. I finally got a cut on him, sliding past his arm.

"Hmm... you got me. So that's one against what... 500?" I glared, and attempted to throw another. Instead, he threw one at me, and it sliced across my cheek so quick, I fell backward, gasping.

"See, you push yourself too hard. Then you pass out, and are left defenseless. Consider yourself dead, again." Tristan said. I glared at him, staggering to my feet. "I may have lost at daggers, but... I can still fight." I panted, and threw a fist at him, hitting him square in the jaw.

He fell to the ground, and froze for a second, ebfore getting back up. "Now that was a good one, I didn't think you had anything like that in you." He said. I grinned. "But... I think we've done enough for today." Lance stood to applaud, and froze. I looked just in time to see it coming. Tristan's fist slammed into my jaw, sending me sprawling backwards.

"Tristan!!!" Lance cried, quickly moving to my side. "She started it." Tristan said, walking away. "You ok?" Lance asked, helping me up. "Do I look ok?" I replied, smiling a little. He grinned, and led me home. Vanora was waiting with water and rags.

A while later, at the bar, Arthur was clearly intent on me. "How'd you get all cut up?" He asked. "Training with Tristan." I replied, looking at him. This caused the whole table to laugh.

Then, I went to bed, feeling warm. At least i was getting somewhere with Tristen.