Disclaimer: I do not own anything related to the movie.
Chapter 1: In the Beginning (Prologue)
"Tristan!" a little girl's shriek was heard upon the lush green hills of Sarmatia. "Stop! It tickles!"
"Oh? Why should I?" a boy at the age of sixteen retorted smugly.
"I'll...I promise I'll...I'll practice shooting arrows...more often! I...I promise!" she managed to tell him in between laughs.
"Alright. I'll hold you to your word." He stood up and grinned. "For a little girl six years of age, you have a lot of potential with that bow. Now, let me see if you've improved." He held out his hand, which she gladly took.
"I want you to hit that tree over there." He pointed to a tree clearly out of range.
"That is too far! The arrow won't even reach it!" she protested, picking up her bow and arrow.
"Really? We shall see then, won't we?" he replied, taking his own weapon.
Fitting the arrow into place, he drew the string back, aiming for the tree. He released the arrow, which soared swiftly through the air and hit the tree right in the middle.
"That-That is impossible!" surprise and disbelief were written all over her young face.
"No, it is possible. Never doubt and underestimate the range of a Sarmatian
bow." He reprimanded her gently. "It's your turn."
She did as she was told. Fitting the arrow into her bow, she took aim and got ready to fire. But before she could do so, a voice ruined her concentration.
"Tristan! Your father calls for you! It is urgent!" a boy slightly older than him came running to where she and Tristan were practicing.
Turning, he glanced at her and followed the boy back to his father. For a few second, she stared after him, then finally dropped her bow and quickly followed.
She was greeted by a band of soldiers who were surrounding Tristan and his father. His father was talking to one of the soldiers with Tristan behind him, scowling. Suddenly, he turned and strode past the soldiers, headed to where his horse stood. Her eyes followed his every move. She went over to him.
"Who are they, Tristan?" she asked, her voice starting to sound fearful as she looked at the almost murderous expression etched on his face. "What do they want?"
"Romans. They have come to choose a knight to fight for them." He answered bluntly and emotionlessly.
"Whom have they chosen?" she asked in a small voice. It took a moment for him to answer, and in that fleeting moment of silence, she knew the answer to her question.
"Me." His answer only confirmed her fears. As he mounted his horse, her eyes filled with tears.
"Don't leave, Tristan, don't leave." She was crying freely now.
"I have to. If I refuse, they will attack our village and destroy the land we both love." He looked at her, the emotions in his eyes were left unsuppressed, and she was struck by the intensity of it.
"Practice your archery, Alyna. Do not forget your promise. You may one day have use for it when I am not around to protect you." He turned his horse to the direction of the soldiers, many of who have already lined up.
"I will return home. That is my promise to you." He looked over his shoulder, taking one last glance at her, fear and loneliness consuming him. Will he be able to keep his promise? That is a question he did not yet have an answer to.
She watched him leave with the Romans with tears clouding her vision. She understood very little of the situation, although she knew very well that they had taken Tristan away from her.
Turning, she ran as fast as she could to the place where they had been earlier. She picked up her bow and arrow with tears flowing from her eyes. Fitting the arrow into her bow, she once again took aim. Crying much harder now, she released the arrow. It hit the tree right above Tristan's.
"I did practice, Tristan, I did practice like you told me to."
Her bow fell to the ground. She was crying so hard, she hardly noticed at all. Staring at the back of her left hand, she gazed at the tattoo near her wrist.
A hawk. Tristan.
He will come back. He was a man of his word. She knew he will, but it would be a long wait and she did not have that much patience to wait for decades. It will be much too long. She will find him one day, and become his protector, as he had become hers.
AN: Hope you guys liked this chapter. Tristan inspires me a lot so he is the one who stars in this story. Anyway, please review! Luv ya all!