Disclaimer: See first chapter.
Caley opened her eyes the next morning and saw that sunlight was streaming in her window. She smiled when she felt a body behind her and closed her eyes.
"Tristan." she said gently. "When did you come in here?" she asked him. When she didn't receive a reply she opened her eyes. "Tristan?" she questioned and went to roll over to look at him.
She let a scream when she saw the body of dead Woad in her bed. Blood soaking the blankets around her.
Caley shot up in her bed with a gasp and wide eyes. Her hand went straight to her rapidly beating heart as she breathed hard.
"It was a nightmare." she told herself. "Just a nightmare." She closed her eyes and took a deep breath before opening them.
She looked over to the window and saw the light of the early morning coming through. She sighed to herself trying to calm down.
"I guess the others haven't headed to breakfast yet." she said to herself, remembering that they would come and wake her if she was not up by then.
She swung her legs over the side of her bed and sat there looking at the floor. She rested her head in her hands and thought about her nightmare. 'I'm sure they'll be more to come.' she thought to herself.
She sighed and stood up to head over to her pack that was sitting by the wall. She opened it up and pulled out a clean dark green tunic and dark brown breeches. She quickly changed into them, taking care not to aggravate her wound. She sat down in the chair that Gawain had occupied the night before to lace up her boots. She looked around the room looking for her light armor and weapons when she spotted them laying on a table. She walked over and looked down at the array of her belongings. Her armor looked clean and her weapons that she remembered had been covered in blood were now spotless.
'Probably Tristan.' she thought to herself.
She picked up her light armor and carefully pulled it on. She then set about the task on putting on her weapons where they belonged. The last thing she picked up was the dagger that Tristan had given her. She looked at it fondly and then brought it to her lips and placed a kiss on the hilt. It had saved her life yesterday. She then placed it on her belt and positioned it so that it was in it's usual place.
As she was putting her other things into her a pack, a knock sounded at her door and she jumped slightly. She sighed. It was going to take her a bit of time to get used to this new life.
She walked over to the door and opened it to see Galahad standing there, a couple of light scratches on his face. "Good morning, Caley. How are you faring?" he asked her gently, concern in his eyes.
She smiled at him. "Good morning to you as well Galahad. I have been better." she replied to him.
"Nightmares?" he questioned, and she was shocked that he had guessed it. He smiled at her knowingly. "I had them too, when I first began this life. They'll eventually fade away. Just stay strong." he told her.
She looked down and then back up to his face. "Thank you." she said sincerely.
"My pleasure." he responded. He then offered his arm to her. "Arthur sent me to come and make sure that you do not miss breakfast. The others have already headed to the tavern." he explained to her.
'He would.' she thought to herself. She smiled at him and took his offered arm gently as they headed in the direction of the tavern.
When they entered the small establishment and the Knights saw Caley and Galahad walk in they erupted in cheers, save for Tristan and Bors. Tristan just smiled at her, happy that she was well. Bors on the other hand was as loud as can be.
"RUUUUUUUUUUSSSSS!!!!!!!!!!" he bellowed as he made his way over to the two younger Knights. Caley couldn't help but smile when she saw the black eye he sported, he would be the one to get into a fist fight. When he reached them he picked Caley up and swung her around and then patted her heartily on the back. "Fit to see another day, eh?" he asked her.
She couldn't help but laugh at his loud antics. "I believe so, Bors."
"Good to hear, lass." he then put his arm around her shoulder's as he walked back over to the table of Knights.
She greeted the rest of the Knights looking them over for any sign of injuries. Dagonet and Arthur seemed to not have a single scratch on them. Lancelot was sporting a couple of bruises on his arms along with a cut or two, but nothing major. She took a seat next to Tristan and was able to examine him when he looked at her. He had a small cut on his lip, and a tiny cut on his brow. He let a small smile spread across his face when she looked at him and she returned it. Under the table she felt his hand reach over and gently squeeze hers. It went completely unnoticed by the other Knights.
"Those Woads were no match for the wrath of this woman!" Lancelot called out while they were eating causing Caley to blush.
"Here here." Gawain agreed. "Did you see her fighting? Like she's been doing it all her life! A true warrior!" Gawain said earning Caley to blush a more.
"Enough men." Ordered Arthur, saving his Lady Knight from any more embarrassment. "Let her eat so we can get home and give her a proper celebration."
Caley looked up at him and smiled her thanks. Dagonet then directed a question to her. "How is your arm, Caley? Is it causing you much pain?" he asked her gently.
She smiled at him. "Nay. It throbs every once in a while, but nothing serious. Thank you for looking after it for me." He nodded at her and she continued on with her meal with the other Knights. She let the occasional smile grace her features when she would feel Tristan's hand gently caress her leg under the table.
Caley made her way back to her room with the other Knights after they had all finished their breakfast. The others had broken off and headed to their rooms, but Tristan who followed Caley into her room.
Caley heard him close the door behind her and then felt his arms snake around her waist from behind. She sighed in contentment and relaxed in his arms as he placed a gentle kiss on her neck. He rested his chin on her shoulder and spoke.
"You worried me yesterday. When I saw Arthur kneeling next to you, I feared the worst." he said quietly.
Caley turned in his arms, making him lift his head off her shoulder. She placed a gentle kiss on his lips. "I am sorry that I worried you. Please don't fear the worst again. I will never leave you like that. I promise." she whispered to him before kissing him again.
They broke apart and he looked her in the eyes. "I promise to never leave you in that manner as well." he said gently. He raised a hand to her cheek and gently caressed the cut that was still there. Caley leaned into his touch with closed eyes reveling in the feeling he gave her.
He leaned in kissed her gently at first, but then pressed her for more. She let him have it by gently parting her lips to allow him access. Her heart skipped a beat as she thought about how wonderful he tasted and couldn't get enough of it. But the need to breathe caused them to break apart to catch their breathes, but Tristan did not stop his onslaught as he continued to place kisses along her jaw line and down her neck. His hands roaming around her waist and back.
She smiled to herself and started to feel herself become aroused and knew that he must be as well. She knew she had to stop him. They did not have the time for this at the moment. She gently reached up with her hands and grabbed his head gently in her hands making him look up into her eyes.
"Tristan." she whispered quietly. He looked at her waiting for her to continue. "As much as I love the affection that you are giving me, I must stop you. We have to meet the others in the stables and head back to the Wall." she tried not to laugh at the crestfallen look that fell over his face, so she kissed him gently.
"Can we continue this when we get back?" Tristan asked her quietly.
She smiled at him and replied. "Yes." She then took him by the shoulders and made him turn around to face the door. "Now go get your things and I'll see you in a few minutes." she told him.
He opened the door and looked over his shoulder at her with a small smile gracing his lips. She returned it, unable o resist his smiles, and he headed out the door.
As soon as Tristan left the room Caley went over to her satchel and finished putting her things in it. She couldn't erase the smile off her face as she thought about the affection that Tristan had given her. She had never seen on heard of him doing such a thing since she had arrived in Briton. She smiled at the thought that what she just experienced was special. It was the Tristan that came out only behind closed doors with her. She finished her task and put on her cloak and grabbed her pack before heading out the door and towards the stables.
Tristan was in his room double checking his things to make sure that he had everything. Jols had already gone down to the stables.
He let a smile come to his face as he thought about the feelings that he just experienced with Caley in her room. He wanted to take her then. He wanted her more than he wanted any other woman. He had to admit that it scared him knowing that he loved Caley so much. He had never felt that way in his 23 years of life and never showed that much affection to anyone as he just showed Caley. She was changing him, ever so slightly, but she was doing so.
He shook his head and smiled. "Bloody women." he said out loud to himself, not quite believing she had done this too him.
He finished packing his bag and made his way down to the stables. All the Knights were there save for Galahad and Gawain. When he saw Caley securing her belongings to her horse she looked up and smiled at him. He gave her a tiny smile in return before moving to his dapple gray horse to saddle up.
When the two younger Knights showed up and had saddled up their horses Arthur turned to look at them. "Knights." he said getting their attention. "Let us head home." he stated and then made his way out of the stables.
The people of the village waved at them as they passed. Small children running beside the horses laughing and smiling. Caley couldn't resist the urge to smile and wave back at the small children. When they were left the borders of the small village Tristan called for his hawk he flew down from the sky to perch herself on his leather clad hand. He spoke to her softly before joining the others and kicking their horses into a gallop as they rode in the direction of Hadrian's Wall.