Reviewer Responses
AK Anonymous- Thank you for the wonderful review. I'm glad you are enjoying what I have written so far, hopefully you will enjoy the rest.
RavenSparrow17- Thank you, I agree not much is known about Tristan. And they keep him as a mysterious figure in the movie as well. I've also noticed there aren't many fics about him. He's actually my fav of the knights. I'm also trying to do my best to represent the camaraderie between the knights and between the knights and Arthur. Keep on reading and reviewing. I'm always happy to hear form my readers.
Knightoftheroundtable- Thank you for being my first reviewer for this fic. I agree that Tristan wouldn't be as trusting, I am trying to be as close to canon as possible, and I want Tristan not to trust her so much as first but he is giving her the benefit of the doubt. She was a person who needed his help and he has seen or heard anything from her that gave any indication she would try to harm him or his 'brothers'. So until she proves herself trustworthy to him, he is going to keep her under watch; You know the saying, "Keep my friends close, but my enemies closer."
Chapter 2
It was another five hours before they group made camp for the night. During the riding no one noticed that one of the Roman legionnaires was paying special attention to Lillian. While the knights and the Roman legionnaires, and Bishop Germanius' servants made camp, Lillian opted to stick close to Tristan's horse. Though she knew from stories that Arthur's men, while still crude, rude and a little sexist they still had morals and would not knowingly touch her without her consent; she did not trust the other men, the Bishop included, especially after the horror stories she heard about the clergy in her own time.
'What the hell am I going to do? How the hell am I going to get home?" she wondered as she watched the men set up their tents and build up a couple of fires. She sat down and leaned back against an oak tree near Tristan's horse.
She sighed to herself as she sat against the tree near Tristan's horse and closed her eyes as she thought of home. While she was in deep thought she did not realize that some one was walking up to her until she felt a hand go over her mouth. Opening her eyes in shock she focused her eyes and saw it was one of the Roman legionnaires.
He was grinning lecherously at her. He tried to kiss her but she kept turning her head and punching him as she tried to scream, but all that would come out was something above a whisper as the man had a hand around her throat.
The big giant of a man slapped her heard, nearly knocking her unconscious.
"None of that now ye whore. Let ole' Claudius take care of his needs and ye'll be well paid," he grunted as he held her arms down and tried to rip Lillian's clothes off.
Lillian, though unable to fight, had enough sense left to scream out, "Tristan!" just before she kneed the mother fucker and tried to escape.
She didn't get far before the man grabbed her ankle, tossing her to the ground. As he was about to turn her over and have his way with her someone shot and arrow into his hand. Claudius turned his head and paled as he saw Tristan striding over towards them to protect the, at least in Claudius's opinion, whore.
Tristan, though outwardly calm, was seething inside that anyone would try and rape a woman. Especially Lillian; whom he was starting to have feelings for. He ran up to where Lillian was and looked her over. Finding no wounds other than scratches and bruises he turned to the Roman.
"What were you doing?" he asked; his voice harsh and cold as ice.
Claudius swallowed the nervous lump in his throat and answered. "I was only gonna have a little fun with your whore…"
With that Tristan growled, "She is no whore! She is a citizen of Rome who I found lost in the woods earlier this day," Tristan stated angrily.
Claudius got up and tried charging Tristan but it as in vain. Tristan had already drawn his sword and as Claudius approached him he side stepped the larger man and sliced his head off.
Just as the body and head fell to the ground another Roman legionnaire showed and asked, "What happened?"
Tristan looked at the legionnaire before answering. He pointed to the now dead Claudius and told the other Roman, anger in his voice. "That son of a whore tried to rape this woman. Who is under my protection; and therefore under the protection of Arthur and my fellow Sarmatian Knights," he informed the legionnaire.
As Tristan spoke he did not notice another legionnaire sneak up behind him with a knife drawn. Lillian had just recovered from the hit she'd been given and noticed the Roman behind Tristan. Unable to speak clearly, since Claudius had tried to strangle her, she grabbed one of Tristan's throwing knives and grabbed it. Praying to the Gods, she threw the knife hoping it would hit its mark; directly in the legionnaires heart.
The knife did hit its mark with a loud thump. The legionnaire cried out from the pain of the knife embedding itself into his chest. Tristan turned and saw the Roman fall to the ground with his knife sticking up from his chest. He then looked over at Lillian with a questioning gaze.
Lillian saw Tristan's gaze and smiled nervously. Her throat already a little better, she tried to speak but was cut off when the Roman who had been speaking with Tristan called out for the Bishop.
"Bishop Germanius!" the soldier called out.
The Bishop having been in a discussion with Arthur, walked over to the soldier, Arthur at his heels. "What is it Lucius?"
Lucius, the legionnaire pointed to Tristan and Lillian, "This Sarmatian and his whore," he spat, "just killed Claudius and Gaius."
Before Germanius could respond Lillian spoke. "Your eminence," she said softly, but strongly. Germanius' eyes shifted from Lucius to Lillian, who then continued, "I am no whore. My name is Lillian Everson and I am a Roman citizen of Britannia, and a Christian. The truth of the matter is that Claudius…" she paused as she spat the name out. "Tristan found me in need of help a few hours ago and offered to bring me to the fort. A few minutes ago Claudius tried to rape me. Tristan shot an arrow through his hand to stop him. They argued and Tristan then sliced Claudius' head off."
Lillian sighed before continuing. "As for Gaius, he was sneaking up behind Tristan with a knife drawn as he spoke with Lucius. I had found one of Tristan's knives and threw it into Gaius."
Arthur looked at Tristan, both knew that she was lying about being a Roman citizen, and asked, "Is that the truth Tristan?"
Tristan nodded, "It is Arthur, I'd swear on the graves of our comrades."
Arthur cast a look of disgust at the two dead bodies then at the other legionnaires before turning on Bishop Germanius, "Is that how your men always treat ladies?" he asked, disgust and anger in his voice.
Germanius, fully aware of the way his men acted when not within his sight, attempted to look shocked. "Of course not…Arthur, do you really believe I would allow my men to do that to a lady?"
"For your sake Bishop, I hope not," Arthur said, "I suggest that you take your men and make sure they understand that when a lady says no, she means no."
Germanius nodded, "I will have it done at once," he then turned to Lillian. "What they tried to do to you my lady was very unchristian."
By now Gawain, Lancelot, Galahad, Bors, and Dagonet had walked over and stood by Arthur, Tristan and Lillian. They watched in surprise as the woman they had met five hours earlier spoke to the Bishop like an equal.
Lillian snorted in disbelief, "Didn't seem to stop Claudius from trying to rape me. Nor did it stop Gaius from trying to murder Tristan. And as all Christian's know the sixth commandment set forth by God and given to Moses on Mt. Sinai was 'Thou shalt not kill'."
Germanius was shocked that a woman, other than a nun, would know the scripture so well. But before he could say anything in response he was interrupted by Arthur.
"It is plain to see that Claudius and Gaius deserved what they got is it not Bishop?" Arthur asked the long time friend of his father's.
Germanius brought out of his shock and nodded, he knew that Claudius and Gaius deserved the deaths they got, "Indeed Arthur, I think we could all use some rest."
A few moments later the impromptu party was broken up and everyone left the Sarmatians, Arthur and Lillian alone. Once the legionnaires, Bishop and his servants left the immediate vicinity Lillian felt her knees go weak and immediately sat down in front of the fire, hugging her
knees to her as the shock finally set in. Arthur and Tristan shared a look and Tristan sat next to Lillian and wrapped an arm around her shoulders.
Lillian leaned into the embrace and began crying softly. She hadn't been so scared since she had watched 'The Exorcist' for the first time when she was fourteen. She also couldn't believe that after all her training in Tai Kwan Do, Karate and meditation that she had allowed someone to sneak up on her. 'Tristan must think I am so weak for crying right now.' She thought.
Little did she know that at moment Tristan was completely puzzled by her. 'She seems so strong yet once the danger has passed she allows her self a complete and total break down. She is also very good with throwing knives…' Tristan's thoughts were interrupted when he heard Bors' voice.
"Do you two want some of this meat?" he asked, pointing to the deer that Galahad had hunted down for their dinner.
Lillian sat up and composed herself but stayed seated closely to Tristan. She smiled slightly, glad someone broke the silenece. She need something to occupy her mind besides what had happened earlier. "That would be great…ummm what was you name? I do not think we got proper introductions earlier," she said with a small smile.
Bors grinned slightly, "I'm Bors. The one eating, with long yellow hair is Gawaine," Bors told her pointing to Gawaine.
"I am Galahad," said a tall man, who looked about 23-24 years old with dark hair and moustache and beard. "Welcome."
The person next to Galahad spoke, "I'm Dagonet."
And the last person she really wanted to hear, "And as you already know I am Lancelot. Welcome to our little circle."
Smirking she looked at Lancelot, "And it's a good thing I already know who you are Lancelot?" she joked causing the others to laugh. "I'm sorry Lancelot, but for future reference your 'charms' will never work on me," she told him.
Lillian was about to say something else when Bors handed her a bowl of the venison stew. Taking the bowl Bors handed her, she looked at Bors with a grin, "Thank you."
After taking a bite and finding it better than some of the steaks she'd had at restaurants like 'Hungry Hunter' and 'The Outback' she asked, "Who cooked the meat?"
Everyone pointed to Dagonet. Lillian smiled at him, "That was some of the best meat I ever tasted."
Dag smiled and nodded in return. Over the next few hours everyone but Lillian, Tristan and Arthur traded 'war' stories and jokes. Gawaine was just telling them about how he had fought a fifty foot serpent that had been terrorizing the people of a town about three days ride south of the wall when Lillian fell asleep, her head laying on Tristan's shoulder.
Not wanting to wake her up to have her move Tristan bid the other a good night before lifting her into his arms and carrying her back to his tent. As he covered her with his blankets and made to move away from her she grabbed his arm and mumbled sleepily.
"Don't go, stay and sleep next to me Tristan. It's too cold for you to sleep with no blankets," she said, her voice laced with sleep.
Tristan shook his head, "I don't want you to feel as if I've taken…" he said.
Lillian opened her eyes and stared into Tristan's. "Listen and listen well Tristan, I am asking you, to lay down next to me and get some sleep. I will not regret it. Now lay down and get some sleep," she ordered as she closed her eyes, letting the stress and tiredness overtake her.
Tristan couldn't help but shake his head in wonder as he lay down next to her. Just as he was about to close his eyes he felt her move closer to him and lay her head on his shoulder. Normally he would have pushed the woman away, but Lillian was quickly making a place for herself in his heart. Sighing he wrapped an arm about her waist and fell asleep.