The rest of that day passed quickly for everyone but Cass and Tristan. She couldn't take her eyes from him, even when she was working in the tavern, though for a different reason than she had looked at him that morning. He sat so silently at the corner table, his face so completely masked that Cass could tell he was punishing himself for the tiny cut he'd given her. Tristan hadn't hurt her. What she'd told him was true; she'd fallen over and had far worse. But he couldn't seem to let go of the fact that he could have hurt her.
It started to rain as Cass had predicted it would, but that only increased Cass' workload, meaning that she had no time to go to Tristan, or to even ask Vanora for advice. Even when she walked back to her room with Tristan, Dagonet and Lancelot, Cass could not talk alone with Tristan. But she could certainly sense the distance he was putting up between them.
As Dagonet and Lancelot entered the building in which all their rooms lay, and Tristan waited for Cass to go in first, Cass took the first opportunity she'd been given to talk to the Knight since he'd accidentally cut her. She pushed the door to the corridor closed and stood between it and Tristan, rain dripping down their faces. He simply looked at her, his expression as masked as it ever could have been. Cass took his hands and sighed; to her, it seemed he was being very unresponsive, and that worried her.
"Tristan, please, stop. It wasn't your fault. I'm not hurt."
There was a long pause between them, one that Cass was determined his voice should fill.
"I could have hurt you," he said in the same low voice as before.
"Tristan, no. Stop being so stubborn. Besides what's life without getting hurt once in a while- and I mean, you didn't even hurt me! Honestly, that cut hurts less than a paper cut."
He said nothing again for what felt like an age to Cass. The thoughts going through Tristan's mind were ones that she wished she could know, just so that she could tell him how wrong he was. Tristan took a long, deep breath before speaking.
"I can't see you in pain," he said in a voice so quiet that Cass almost missed his words.
"I'm not in pain. Tristan, the only thing that's hurting me is seeing you in pain, especially over something so little."
He frowned, turning his head from Cass. All Tristan could think about was how even just as he'd promised himself he'd never hurt her, he was hurting her again.
"Please Tristan, just let it go."
The pleading look in her eyes drew him back to her. Cass wasn't going to give up, and she knew that it didn't seem likely that he would either. Tristan took a breath. As bad as he felt- as angry as he was with himself- Cass' eyes brought his memory back to the night she'd tried to end things. And that brought him to his senses, or to senses that told him, as Cass did, to relax. Let it pass. Tristan bowed his head to the girl before him.
"I'm sorry," Tristan said, the words rolling off his tongue as if he had barely used them before.
Cass stared at him, not knowing if his apology was because he couldn't let it go, or that he was apologising for how he had acted. It proved to be the latter as he bent his neck, enveloping her lips in a kiss. Cass pulled away after a while, letting him take her inside and away from the falling rain that had drenched them both. Tristan left her at her door, his expression softer than it had been since their training.
The next morning, Cass woke early once more. She guessed that she was just so used to doing it now that she'd never lie in again as she pulled on her black dress. She tried to calm the mess that her hair always was in the morning by brushing it back and attempting to smooth the frizz. It didn't really work as well as she'd wanted it to, but she headed outside anyway after she'd strapped her swords about her waist.
Cass smiled at her luck as just as she stepped out of her room and found Tristan doing the same. He waited for her to make her way over to him and took her hand in his. She saw his eyes glint in the half light of the corridor. Neither said anything as they walked outside; until Tristan stopped her where they usually separated. Cass looked at him questioningly.
"Come with me," he said.
"What... Where?" Cass asked with a half confused smile.
He tilted his head to side as he answered, "Scouting."
Cass couldn't think what to say, so she didn't say anything. Scouting. With Tristan? Why would he... After yesterday? It makes no sense. Then it hit her. The reason Tristan was asking her to go out scouting with him had to be to show her that he was trying to get passed what had happened. The fact that he was taking her to somewhere that she could be hurt when he was so determined that she wouldn't be only confused her, but she wasn't about to say no.
Cass nodded, letting him lead her to the stables. She swallowed as she watched Tristan saddling his horse, before she realised that he was only saddling his horse. He mounted and guided his horse toward Cass, holding out a hand for her. Cass smiled, pushing back any fear that she was still holding onto, and took his hand. He pulled her up so that she was sat behind him. Her arms circled Tristan's waist, and as the horse started to move again, her grip tightened slightly. Not the way to get him to believe you're getting better, she thought to herself. It wouldn't occur to her until later how much that she'd enjoyed just being able to hold Tristan in her arms for so long a time.
As they rode through the Fort to the Gates, Cass couldn't help but feel as she had the previous morning, as if someone was watching her. She put it passed her once again, putting it down to the emptiness that the lack of people and the semi-darkness gave the Fort. Cass rested her head against Tristan and looked off to her left as they emerged from the Fort. It seemed eerie.
Tristan took Cass on a shorter version of the places he usually scouted around. He wanted to show her that he'd let go what had happened, but he didn't want to put her directly in any danger. For her part, not knowing that they were taking a slightly safer route than his normal trails were, Cass was amazed. She was totally wrapped up in trying to notice the things that Tristan could see, and that she, no matter how observant she was, could not.
She wanted to ask him how it was that he knew what he was looking at, but refrained. The whole point of scouting was to be silent so, in case anything was amiss, any enemy would not hear them. Instead, she tried to wait until Tristan stopped; though, when he did, Cass said nothing. They were near enough beside a line of trees, nowhere that Cass had seen before. But she could tell from the way Tristan paused, and the way he scanned first the ground and then the tree line that something was wrong. Tristan dismounted; standing beside Cass and his horse. Cass wasn't sure what to look at, again unable to see what it was that he was seeing.
"Stay where you are," Cass heard him whisper, unsure if he was talking to her or the horse.
She stayed where she was anyway, watching as Tristan picked up his bow and strung it. Cass stared; if something bad was going to happen, if they were going to be attacked or something, she wanted to help. But she could already predict that he wouldn't let her. Not after the day before. Cass bit her bottom lip as she started to hear something moving amongst the trees, and it sounded to her like running people. Tristan released two arrows at once into the tangle of trees before they appeared.
Woads. Blue demons, she'd heard them called. It wasn't at all hard for her to imagine why they were called as such as they launched themselves out from the trees, screaming, ferocious and covered in some sort of wraithlike blue paint. Tristan was quick though. He released another set of arrows into the bodies of oncoming Woads. Cass wanted to help; but she knew that right now, if she went against what Tristan had told her to do, she would only distract him.
Her choice was made for her though as an arrow narrowly missed her head, and before she could even gasp a sharp intake of breath, Tristan pulled her from his horse. Cass didn't even know where the archer was, but Tristan loosed another arrow and no more came for Cass. As the Woads neared, Cass saw him shoulder his bow and unsheathe his sword. She saw the masked but distinctly unhappy look in his expression as he turned to her, the moment before they were on them.
"You'll have to fight with me" he almost growled, hating the words as he said them.
He hated what he had to ask of the girl, but if she didn't fight, then he would have to stop what he judged to be ten Woads from killing both her and himself. If she was defending herself she would make it far easier for him to kill their attackers more quickly- no matter how much he hated that plan. Cass nodded, taking a deep breath as she unsheathed her swords and stood beside Tristan. All she could think was that getting Tristan to let her fight had been a lot easier than she'd anticipated. I guess emergencies are useful, she thought. What she didn't realise was that, for her to fight, an opponent had to get passed Tristan- and he'd be damned if he'd let that happen.
Their first attacker, a wild-looking red-headed man, was dead with one swift flick of Tristan's sword. The headless body of the next joined him in the blood-splattered grass. Cass' grip tightened around her swords, knowing that momentarily, she would have to make use of all the training she'd received. It wasn't long before the remaining eight Woads were before them, and attacking with all their might. Tristan could not stop the few that made it passed him. He could only hope that, as he fought those that turned to him, Cass would be able to take care of herself until he could help her.
Cass backed up slightly, her swords raised as the three Woads advanced on her. She lost track of Tristan then, realising that she had to pay attention to those in front of her. Focus, she told herself as she moved to block a blow that could have been deadly. As the sword not blocking the axe headed for her head moved under the man's chest, Cass felt for the first time her blade slice through flesh. She had no time to dwell on the feeling as a woman with a scraggly blonde mess of hair launched herself at Cass, snarling madly. She ducked the Woad's first blow, their swords clashing multiple times before Cass kicked the woman back. Cass turned and brought her swords down on the woman. The woman fell to the ground, cross-shaped slashes deep in her dying body.
Her final opponent, a man with dark hair, tattoos running across his arms, moved sporadically; his attacks were disjointed and confusing. That was why Cass didn't expect the force at which his body hit hers, as they both toppled to the ground, swords locked. As she struggled to get him off her, Cass brought her knee up with some force, and in the moment it took for the pain to register in the man's face, Cass had rolled out from under him. As she stood, bringing her swords back around, readying herself for his next attack, the Woad scrambled to his feet.
He didn't attack though. He didn't get the chance. Cass saw the sword jutting from between the man's ribs, and she watched as blood bubbled, dribbling from his open, surprised mouth. Tristan let the body drop to the ground and moved over to Cass. She hadn't noticed that he'd stopped fighting, but now she saw that the ground was littered with dead bodies, dyeing the earth blood red. I just killed two of them, she thought blankly, not really taking in what she'd done.
Tristan placed his hand on her shoulder, pulling her from her thoughts. His eyes were asking her if she was alright. Cass nodded, not trusting her voice. It wasn't that she wasn't alright; the thing that stopped her talking was that she was alright. Fighting those Woads was different to how she'd expected it to be. She just needed a moment to take in what had happened; and Tristan gave her that. He took her swords from her and wiped them clean as he did with his own; then he moved to check the area around them. Cass didn't know what for, and she didn't ask.
She found herself wondering if how she felt now was how Tristan and the others felt after they'd first killed. You're a killer, Cass thought to herself, what she'd done finally hitting her. Not a murderer. But a killer. She almost felt a little sick, but she held the feeling back. She'd show Tristan that she was strong enough to handle this; her plan to join the Knights on their missions suddenly feeling slightly more realistic.
"Tristan... Why were they...?" Cass began.
Tristan shrugged, turning back to her. He handed her back her swords, which she sheathed, and then led her back to his horse. They rode back to the Fort quickly, leaving the blue-painted bodies where they had fallen. Tristan said nothing as they rode, but inwardly, he was impressed. Cass had handled that situation much better than he'd thought she would. She was unhurt. That was what mattered to him the most. And though she'd killed for what he knew to be the first time, Cass had reacted better than most others he'd known. As they arrived at the Fort, Tristan left his horse with Jols and led Cass into the building beyond the gated courtyard.
"Tristan, where are we going?" Cass asked quietly.
"We need to see Arthur," Tristan replied, his deep voice holding a similar volume to hers.
He could have gone alone to tell Arthur of the unexpected attack, but Tristan was still quite unsure of how Cass was reacting to having killed those Woads. Her reaction so far had been so unusual; he was beginning now to question whether she was holding something back. He didn't want to leave her in case anything changed in her reaction for the worse. The pair stopped outside of Arthur's room and Tristan knocked. He didn't really expect Arthur to be there, but it was always the best place to start when searching for him. It was almost surprising when the commander pulled the door open and stood to face them.
Arthur was about to say something, but his expression turned to a frown, and instead he asked, "What happened?"
Cass frowned. How does he know something's happened? she thought, but as she looked down she noticed that her skin was splattered with flecks of dried blood. She hadn't noticed that. And she hadn't noticed that Tristan was much the same.
"Woad ambush," Tristan replied.
Arthur's frown deepened and he asked, "How many?"
"Around fifteen," Tristan answered, tilting his head as if the number was nothing.
Arthur sighed, one hand reaching up to massage his forehead.
"Any ideas on what they were doing?"
Tristan shook his head. Both men knew that it seemed odd that the Woads would attack like that. There had to be a reason for it, and as there were no carriages, or villages nearer than the well protected Fort, neither man could see the sense behind it.
"Perhaps they're just getting a bit adventurous," Cass volunteered.
She almost wished she hadn't said anything as the pair turned to her. They both knew she could be right, but neither liked the sound of that idea.
"Perhaps," Arthur replied quietly.
"Thank you for telling me. I'm sorry; Cass would you give us a moment?"
Cass blinked, and then said, "Yes, er, sure. I should go and get cleaned up anyway."
She smiled at the two men and turned, leaving them behind. After she had washed and changed, Cass found that Tristan was waiting for her. She smiled as she saw him, meeting him with a kiss. She didn't ask him what he and Arthur had discussed as they headed for the tavern, she thought that if it had been any of her business then Arthur wouldn't have asked her to leave. Cass had no idea that part of the two men's private conversation had in fact been about her.
Tristan had told Arthur about Cass' fighting the Woads, and Arthur had wondered how she'd handled herself. The quiet Knight explained her reaction and Arthur nodded, suggesting that Tristan keep a particular eye on her for the rest of the night. To him, her reaction just didn't seem normal for a girl who blushed when people stared at her or talked to her. Perhaps she's just stronger than I thought, Arthur considered as he watched the scout leave.
By the time that they arrived in the tavern, Arthur and the others were already at the corner table. It was lucky too, that the tavern was not busy, as the Knights, who'd heard what had happened, were determined that she should stay with them and have a drink. She declined their offer, however they did not let her leave the table until she'd drunk at least one glass of ale. Cass couldn't understand why they seemed to want her to drink something so badly. In the end she agreed simply to placate them. For their part, the Knights knew that they always felt better drunk after seeing battle.
Cass managed to convince the others that she was fine, and just tired. So Tristan took her back to her room, but she could tell that he was watching her carefully. More carefully than usual. She sighed as they stood outside of her door. Tristan kissed her in a way that Cass knew was meant to be reassuring and when she pulled back, she smiled at him.
Cass went into her room and, as soon as her door was closed, lay down on her bed. She stared at the ceiling, mulling over the events of the day. She was almost annoyed at how the Knights had reacted. They'd only done it because they cared about her, she knew; but what had irritated her was that she was fine and they didn't seem to believe her. Cass knew also, that it seemed odd to them how she'd reacted. She put it down to the fact that she had already been set in knowing that she'd have to kill if she wanted to save the Knights. She had almost been prepared for the moment she'd have to kill.
Cass hoped that today had gotten her closer to that goal. She hadn't dared to ask Tristan yet though; she knew that she couldn't ride well enough to convince him to let her join them. As she drifted into a deep sleep, no matter how much she'd thought it hadn't affected her, the only faces she saw in her dreams that night were those of the two Woads she'd killed.
Author's Note: Well firstly, Happy New Year! (Yeah, I know I'm days off, sorryyyyy. :P)
This chapter just took on a will of its own. It started the way I planned the chapter, but something took over and this came out; so I hope you like it anyway. :)
Lastly, I'd like to apologise because I need to stop writing for a little while. Until February actually. I have two A levels this month, so apologies, but if I want my life to go anywhere (which I do :P) then I need to knuckle down and pass them. Unfortunately that means that "An Artist's Touch" will be on hiatus until then, simply because it distracts me too much from actually doing my work. But hopefully, since my last exam in the 31st, I should be able to write a chapter for the 1st or 2nd of February, so until then, all you lovely people who are reading, and especially those of you reviewing, I hope you're well and thank you. :)
Kit xx