CHAPTER SEVEN: Something To Worry About
The softness of her laughter filled his ears. The sweet melody was enough to distract anyone from their current thoughts. Tristan rode a little further up the trail to escape the sound.
Another day had passed and the Princess found herself riding along side the knights again. Oddly enough, their tales of battle didn't frighten or disgust her. They intrigued her mind greatly and left her begging for more.
Tristan noticed her company was spent mostly with Dagonet while riding. Tristan already knew the stories he told her, for he was apart of them; they all were. Lancelot and Bors would interrupt every now and again. Tristan enjoyed the looks she shot them for interrupting Dagonet's stories.
Tristan glanced back at her. She rode her white speckled mare silently. She stared straight, not looking at anything in particular. It was very breezy today. She had her hood tied tightly underneath her chin. The chill colored her cheek a rosy pink, nearly the shade of her lips. The scenery never looked so beautiful. He turned away quickly, not wanting to linger too long so she might catch him.
Suddenly, as if on cue, a great gust of wind blew past them all. Tristan turned his head swiftly so the wind wouldn't pound his face. His gaze fell upon Elena once more. Escaping her would not be easy.
Elena gripped the reins tightly. Her horse became startled by the rapid blasts of air. The mare wasn't used to such brutal weather.
"Eros," she said anxiously. Tristan heard her and saw as her horse began to move from the trail. "Whoa!"
Tristan made a path toward her, reaching her in record time. He grasped the horse by its reins quickly pulling it forward forcefully. It was a very strong horse, rather small but still very strong. Eros fought against Tristan, breaking free of his hold.
Elena held onto Eros tightly. She bent down and laid her head on his neck. She began rubbing his mane, shushing all his worries away. Eros always approved when she combed through his mane. Why not this time? Her free hand moved calmly through his hair until he stilled.
"There you go Eros," she stated softly lifting her head. She turned to Tristan, who was still nearby by. Where did he come from? How did he end up so close, she thought to herself before she began to speak. "I am sorry," she began. "He is very excitable-"
"And very reckless," interupted Tristan.
"I beg your pardon."
"If you can't handle the animal," began Tristan again, "then perhaps you shouldn't ride it."
Elena could feel her blood begin to boil at his comment. "I can handle him, I assure you." Elena tighten her heels against Eros and brought him round, stopping directly in front of Tristan. It was the closest they had ever been to each other. He finally caught the color of her eyes. The green pigments sparkled against the sunlight, showing both anger and frustration. "You have nothing to worry about."
"Does this Roman of yours have a name," asked Gawain curiously.
"He's a Roman," said Dagonet, "he probably has several names." Elena looked at them, almost smiling at Dagonet's comment.
"Lord Dominic," she replied curtly, turning her head forward. "Shouldn't you already know that," she asked them in turn. "I would have thought my escorts would have been well versed in who they were bringing me to. It makes me wonder if I'm in the right company."
"We're not actually escorts, Princess," interjected Lancelot, raising his head to the sky. Elena smiled briefly at his playful manner. "We are the greatest knights that ever lived. The strongest, the bravest, the best."
She laughed softly. "I would think that the greatest knights that ever lived should know their assignments thoroughly and not wait for their commanders to brief them on the details."
"Well, that is the way of the Romans," said Lancelot. "It is their way or no way."
"That is what I hear. Is that what I am to be subject to as well?"
"I have met Lord Dominic," began Arthur, speaking loud enough for Elena to hear him. "He is a very well thought of man in Rome." Arthur rode in front of her. While he continued, her gaze drifted to his backside. "It was a brief moment of course, but…"
Why did he stop?
Elena moved her horse beside him. "Commander?"When he didn't answer, she followed his gaze. Over the clearing, Tristan came into view. She hadn't seem him since their encounter earlier with her horse. Tristan often left the company of the group. He was a scout. He made sure the paths up ahead were safe for travel. And so far, there were no complaints.
Tristan reached them quickly. Perhaps too quickly Elena thought. Everyone stopped, except Arthur who rode out to meet him. Elena watched intently as the two spoke. She was too far away to hear anything. Tristan pointed off towards the north, in the very same direction they were going. And before she knew it, Tristan rode off again, disappearing, but not before Elena saw him remove his bow.
"What is happening?" Arthur said nothing as he rode past her. "Commander?"
"Dagonet, I need you to steer the carriage to the wood clearing over there. And take the Princess with you. Keep her close." Dagonet nodded his understanding dismounting his horse quickly.
"What's wrong, Arthur," asked Lancelot.
"Raiders," he replied. "About thirty just beyond the ridge."
"Thirty," exclaimed Bors. "I'm too hungry to fight thirty!"
"You're always hungry," added Galahad.
"Hopefully we won't have to engage them," began Arhur. "We'll have to move fast."
"Is someone coming," asked Elena.
"Princess, I need you to go with Dagonet now," repeated Arthur.
Elena saw Dagonet beside her horse with his hand extended to her. Reluctantly, she took it and he carefully helped he off Eros. She stopped in front of Arthur's steed despite Dagonet's pull on her arm. Elena had no idea what was going on. Worry was written on every part of her face
"Gawain, Galahad. Stay near the top of ridge. Keep your cover in the trees. Lancelot, Bors. You two follow me."
disclaimer: i do not own king arthur.
