AN: SWEET BABY CARROTS! This took forever and a half! I'm so sorry! I started this new plan to update my stories faster and it worked, for everything but this! But do not fear. I've planned out the ending and it should be finished within the next seven or eight chapters. :) With a possible one shot sequel. For now, I'm working to finish this because I know I can and I'll think about sequels later. Enjoy!
Chapter Eleven
Waiting and Surviving
Liara never had an easy life. Being born into slavery meant she was working as soon as she could walk. But she had been slowly getting used to living comfortably, without having to do more than a few chores and play with her daughter daily. Liara was always ready for a complaint from Orea about the extra work, being an outspoken woman, but there was never one. The older woman seemed to thrive on work and Liara couldn't complain.
Tristan still worked as hard as ever but took more time for Liara and Ellia. He only showed affection in public to Ellia, rather than his wife as well, but Liara didn't mind, she much preferred it that way, she wanted him to herself. No one looked at them oddly when a father was holding his child, even if it was Tristan. They had just slipped into a comfortable pattern, since the Romans had been taken care of almost two months earlier, when Arthur told them they would have to march south, to battle a possible invasion of Gaul's.
Liara was fearful of the whole situation but Tristan was calm and confident so she took from her husband's strength.
"All will be well." Tristan assured her, gripping her shoulders.
Liara stopped packing his bag for a moment and let out a long sigh. "I will be much happier when this is done and over with and it is certain everything is well." She told him, looking over her shoulder at him.
Tristan stepped up behind her and wrapped his arms around her.
She instantly clung to his muscled arms. "Come home soon." She murmured quietly.
He pressed a kiss to the top of her head and held her tighter. "I'll try." He whispered before he was forced to let her go.
They left their home together with Ellia to meet up with the others at the Wall. The knights said their goodbyes to the wives and children, save for Lancelot who cooed at his horse as he had no wife or children, and mounted their horses.
"Bring him back alive." Liara told Bors.
"This one you don't have to worry about. He's quick on his feet." Gawain said with a wink.
Tristan took the reins of his horse and looked back to Liara.
"Jols will be available to you all if you need him. We will send word as soon as the threat is terminated." Tristan assured her as he rubbed the top of Ellia's head. She giggled and tried to grab his hand.
She bit her lip and nodded. "Good luck," She murmured, wishing she could reach out and touch him but she knew he didn't like others to see them affectionate.
"My men are at your disposal, use them." He said seriously.
"If I need them, I will." She promised. He begrudgingly climbed on the back of his horse and looked down at Liara. "Stay safe." She said almost begging.
Tristan looked conflicted but gave a curt nod and trotted off with the rest of the men. The wives watched while they tried keep control of all their children. Liara hated to see him go. Though they hadn't been very close for long, she still hadn't been away from each other for any more than a day. As soon as he disappeared she instantly felt like she was just dropped into an open war zone.
Vanora walked up to her and rubbed her back. "It gets easier." She said sadly.
Liara took in a deep breath. "I do not wish to be accustomed to it." She muttered.
"None of us do." Vanora frowned then started shooing her children toward their home.
Liara looked back where she had last seen Tristan and prayed to any of the gods that were listening that he would turn around and come back but he never did. Ellia began to cry and Liara knew it was time to go. She walked back to her home while trying to calm her baby.
Chores around her home kept Liara busy for the rest of the day with Orea and Ellia. They had eaten supper together and Liara took Ellia for a walk while Orea cleaned up. Walking around Tristan's land she noticed soldiers running out of the Wall and into the woods. She watched the trees until they came back, carrying people. Liara rushed up to Jols who was ordering the soldiers.
"What's going on?" She asked worryingly.
"Please, go back to your home." Jols said, pointing back to her house.
"Jols, tell me." Liara said firmly.
Jols grumbled. "A village was attacked by Gaul's, the survivors are here for sanctuary." He answered tersely then followed the last soldier back to the Wall.
Liara felt a pang of sympathy in her heart as she remembered her own experience. She rushed back to her home with Ellia.
"Orea," Liara called out as she walked through the front door.
"Yes Miss?" Orea asked walking from the kitchen.
"There is something happening at the Wall, I'm going to go help." Liara said as she passed Ellia to Orea. "I'll send one of Tristan's men to watch the house." She said reassuringly when Orea became visibly worried.
"Watch yourself, Miss." Orea said seriously.
"I will." Liara promised. She leaned down and kissed Ellia's head soundly then left.
She walked out of her home and for the Wall with determination. There was never much she could do to help, other than with her daughter, and now she had the chance to help others and it gave her a strong sense of purpose. Walking into the city quickly told the first guard she could find to get one of Tristan's men to guard her home then made her way to the infirmary.
Nearing the long building she could tell that it was where the injured villagers were from all of the fuss surrounding it. She walked inside without a problem, the guards knew who she was and didn't dare stop her. The only one that was more feared than Tristan was Arthur himself. She eased her way through the crowded room and found Jols. She walked up to him and looked at him sternly.
"I want to help." Liara told Jols.
He looked very conflicted. He knew he should send Liara back, but he needed all the help he could get at the present. "Can you get them to talk?" He asked, looking at the room full of injured villagers.
"What do you mean?" She asked confused.
"They won't tell us anything." He huffed, crossing his arms over his chest.
"You want to know where the Gaul's are." She said quietly.
"Yes," He said seriously.
"I will try." She said nodding, walking into the crowded room.
Liara felt very awkward in the room, especially since she was so used to being the one injured. Most of the villages were so badly wounded she wasn't even sure if they would live. There were three children that were conscious, but she didn't want to prod them with questions. In the very back of the infirmary was a teenaged girl with long red hair, much like Vanora's, who was being kept in bed by a young nurse.
Liara walked up to the nurse and touched her shoulder. The young woman looked up at her frustrated. "I can help." She said moving closer to the girl. The nurse nodded and left the girls bedside. Liara eased herself next to the girl and started to gently address the wound on her arm. "I am Liara." She told the girl sweetly.
The girl look at Liara with almond shaped blue eyes and murmured her name, "Cerise,"
Liara gave her a smile and continued to clean the wound on her arm. "Do you have any other injuries?" She asked calmly.
Cerise looked away quickly and pulled away from Liara's gasp, like she had been stung by fire. Liara could see it in the way she curled into ball, how her eyes lost all light they might have had. She had lost her maidenhead to the same savages that had attacked her village.
Liara inched herself closer to Cerise, but didn't attempt to touch her. "No one is going to hurt you here, I promise." She said confidently.
Cerise took a deep breath and looked up at Liara, calming at the sound of her sure voice, and uncoiled herself just a little.
"Do you know where the Gaul's are now?" Liara asked coolly.
Cerise shook her head. "There weren't many of them, but we didn't have many warriors to fight them." She choked out.
"Its all right," Liara said soothingly.
Cerise wiped her eyes roughly, and tried to keep her composer. Liara felt very protective over the girl she had just met. She wanted to help her, because she had been helped and she felt that fate was giving her a chance to do the same for someone else. She slipped away from Cerise's bed and looked for Jols.
She had to go back outside and found him talking with one of older healers, and they were both looking very worn and disappointed.
"Jols," Liara said quietly.
Jols rubbed his eyes and turned to Liara. "Yes?" He asked tiringly.
"I'm going to take her to my home." She told him.
His eyes almost bulged out of his head. "Miss, that's not a good idea." He tried to say calmly.
"She will not harm me, or my daughter. She needs to be away from all of this to recover." Liara said firmly. She knew what she was doing, and she didn't appreciate Jols treating her like a child. She looked at the mass of men that had gathered around the outside of the building and saw one of Tristan's men. "Kian," She called.
The tall, dark haired man stepped away from the crowd quickly and up to Liara. "Miss?" He asked politely.
She didn't stop and wonder why one of Tristan's men was conveniently waiting outside of the building she was in and just silently thanked her husband's persistence. "Please follow me." She said as she walked back inside.
They walked through the crowded room of beds and people down to where Cerise was still laying with her legs still tight against her chest. She looked relieved to see Liara again but froze when she saw Kian following her. He was pleasant enough to look at, but he very much had the build of a fierce warrior.
"Cerise, would you like to come with me to my home?" Liara asked sweetly.
"What about my brother?" Cerise asked looking to the bed that was surrounded by healers.
Liara could tell she cared a great deal about her brother, but she didn't know if her brother would even survive the night and Cerise needed her rest away from all of the chaos if she was going to recover. "He'll be in better hands here." She said knowingly.
"I don't know if I can walk." Cerise murmured.
"Kian can carry you, if you will allow him." Liara said looking up to her husband's ward.
Cerise looked frightened by the idea, but nodded. Kian very carefully lifted Cerise off the bed and carried her out of the room.
Liara kept in line with the young warrior easily as they walked back to her home. The man she had ordered to her home was still there, carving a small piece of wood that looked like it was turning into a toy, no doubt for his child.
Kian and the other knight acknowledged each other with a nod and the other man opened the door for them. Kian walked in with Cerise first and Liara followed him but stopped to speak with the other man.
"You can leave," She told him with a thankful smile.
"Miss," He said with a bow and left for the Wall.
Liara walked inside and shut the door behind her. Kian had put Cerise in a chair and Orea was already fussing over her.
"My goodness, you are in need of washing." Orea said as she shook her head.
"Is Ellia alright?" Liara asked trying to hide her concern.
"She's asleep Miss." Orea answered, nodding toward the stairs.
"Good," Liara said relieved. "Kian, can you please stand guard outside?" She asked sweetly.
Kian nodded obediently and walked out of the house, closing the door quietly behind him.
Liara turned back to Cerise and could see she was feeling awkward because of Orea's fussing. "Cerise, this is Orea, she is a good friend." She told the young girl, reassuringly.
"Hello," Cerise chirped.
"You need some food, I'll make something." Orea said quickly then rushed off to the kitchen.
Cerise was visible calmer when Orea left and looked around the room she was in. "You have nice home." She murmured to Liara.
"Thank you, my husband would usually disagree, he thinks it's too big." Liara said with a quiet chuckle as she remembered all of Tristan's complaints about the house.
Cerise tensed at the mention of Tristan and Liara knew why. She was afraid of any men at the moment, and Liara didn't blame her.
"He's left, to stop a possible invasion with the King." Liara said answering the unspoken question.
"Will they stop them?" Cerise asked hopefully.
"I am very sure of it." Liara said knowingly. She knew Tristan to be a very motivated man and he wouldn't let any enemy near his home.
Orea came back from the kitchen with a bowl of hot stew. "Be careful, it's hot." Orea said as she handed the bowl carefully to Cerise.
"Thank you," Cerise said attempting to smile at Orea.
Orea smiled down at the girl. "You are welcome, young lady." She said kindly then looked to Liara. "Miss, might I speak to you in the kitchen?" She asked politely, but in a tone that Liara knew was not of the asking kind.
"Of course." Liara said walking with Orea to the other room. When they were away from Cerise, in the kitchen Liara leaned close to Orea. "What's wrong?" She asked confused, whispering to the older woman.
"It's a noble thing you're doing, taking her in, but will Tristan allow her to stay when he returns?" Orea asked quietly, not wanting Cerise to hear that she was being talked about behind her back.
"Yes, he will. But she may be on her feet and on her own by the time he returns." Liara pointed out.
"You are right, I am sorry. I just don't want to see you in trouble." Orea said apologetically, rubbing Liara's arm soothingly.
"Thank you for your concern, but I feel this is something I need to do and I would have done it with or without his permission." Liara said firmly.
"My goodness, aren't you becoming bold?" Orea asked proudly before walking back to Cerise in the other room.
Liara was stunned by Orea's comment for a moment. She hadn't noticed that she really had become more outspoken in the time she had been with Tristan, which seemed backwards to her since her husband was so quiet. She was surprised, but she was also pleased. It meant she was finally moving passed what had happened to her and embracing the life she was given.
She took a deep breath in with a calm smile forming on her face and walked back to Cerise, ready to help the girl overcome whatever all she had seen and survived.
AN: Review
