Disclaimer: I do not own anything related to the movie. (I'm getting tired of having to repeat this again and again...)

Sorry for the delay. School always comes first to me. I'll make it up to you all in this chapter. Hope you'll like it!

Chapter 5: Truths

They were up long before sunrise. Alyna scanned the surroundings frantically for her horse. It was nowhere in sight. She had only remembered that she had not seen her favored steed since the day before.

"Helena," Tristan came up behind her. She turned as his hand touched her shoulder. "Your horse." He stated nonchalantly.

This caught her by surprise. "How did you find her?" she asked, taking the reins from his hand.

"It was easy. She was not hard to spot." He slid his hand on the lean neck of the horse, a smile gracing his lips. "Magnificent animal, superb breeding." He gave it a pat then turned and strode off without another word.

Alyna stared after him, her lips forming a soft smile.

They all rode in silence. As usual, Tristan was at the head of the company.

"When do you reckon the Saxons will reach the wall?" Alyna asked, curious.

"In no more than four weeks." Gawain answered.

"Do you trust me?" She suddenly asked, eyes fixed ahead.

Gawain followed her gaze and his eyes landed on Tristan. His brows furrowed for a moment. "You mean if Tristan trusts you." It wasn't a question. He didn't need to be very intelligent to figure that out.

She quickly turned to him, eyes wide with surprise. "I-I was asking – "

"It's no use denying, it, Helena. I, for one, have ears. Don't think I did not hear your little exchange last night." Gawain answered, chuckling.

"He doesn't trust me, does he?" Alyna finally admitted.

"Don't worry. Tristan does not easily trust anyone. It's normal that he wouldn't trust you until you have proven it to him that you are trustworthy."

"You mean I'll have to take an arrow for any of you for him to trust me." She muttered, sighing.

"Why not?" Gawain chuckled. "Until he is sure that you will not betray us, you'll have to live with him always keeping an eye on you for anything suspicious. Why is his trust so important to you anyway?"

Alyna hesitated, then said, "I don't like being doubted."

Her silent lapse did not go unnoticed. Gawain observed as her gaze once again went to Tristan. He wondered at the attention the girl was giving the scout. Sure, Tristan had his fair share of women admiring him, but not from this kind of woman. She was a warrior, he could tell, while those who threw themselves onto Tristan's lap were ones who knew nothing of warfare, nor could even begin to think it.

His gaze went to her bow. His surprise was written plainly on his face. A Sarmatian bow. A million questions ran through his mind then, but only one lingered: Was she someone who knew Tristan before they were taken ruthlessly from their homeland?

He could feel it. She was staring at him again, and worst of all, he liked it. He could not shake the feeling of recognition that ran through his system as her gaze lingered on his back. How could some person evoke such a feeling in him that he had not felt since who knows when? He could tell she was no ordinary woman warrior, especially with that bow she was carrying. Oh, yes, he knew. He recognized it from the very beginning when he had picked her unconscious form yesterday.

He continued to ride calmly, trying to ignore the burning sensation her gaze stirred up within him. He could afford no distractions as of now, when they were so dangerously close to the enemy. No distractions at all, even pleasant ones.

He longed to turn and gaze back at her, to see if what he suspected was true. But what did he suspect? That she was a traitor? Or that she was the one he had longed to see for fifteen years? By now, she would be twenty-one, Tristan mused. And if this girl riding with them was really her, she would've recognized him by now. Or would she? Fifteen years is a long time to wait, and people change. He changed, of that he was sure. She would've changed also; maybe even to the woman he wanted her to be – strong and gentle.

He strived to remain alive, only to gaze once again at the Alyna he had adored for so long. Helena. Could she have made it up? Maybe his hopes were just too high. She could've married by now. Yet his heart refused to believe this. His mind was making so many conclusions that it was all he could do to keep from losing it. It was the complete opposite of the saying: Mind over Heart. He was doing it all wrong! But deep inside, there was a part of him that believed that Alyna would've waited for him, that she would even go through the lengths of coming after him. Did she? He knew not, but he hoped that she did. How he hoped that she did. And he even hoped that the girl staring at him was the complete proof of that.

"Helena, is it?" Arthur asked as the rest of the knights rode faster, following Lancelot's lead.

Alyna stared at him for a moment then nodded. "It is an honor to meet the legendary Arthur Castus, one who has never been defeated in battle.

"I do not take all the honor, lady. My knights deserve it more." Arthur replied. "Where are you from, may I inquire?"

"Where do your knights come from, Arthur?" she asked back.

"Surely you know that they are Sarmatians." Arthur answered.

"Then you should know that I too, am a Sarmatian." She smiled.

"Something tells me you are not in this land without a purpose, Helena." His tone was dead serious. "What were you doing in those woods, knowing very well they were Woad territory."

His frankness surprised her. She had certainly not expected this. The smile that graced her lips was gone the moment he voiced out his question. "P-perhaps I did not know it was Woad territory." She answered, avoiding his gaze.

"But you did know. If you wish to travel with us, we would expect you to tell us the truth so that at least we can sleep peacefully at night." Arthur stared hard at her. "Why are you in this land, Helena?"

Alyna knew that she could not lie to him now. Not to Arthur. "Will I be able to confide this with you, Arthur, without doubt?" she asked hesitantly.

"If it is keeping it from my knights that you mean, no." he answered.

"At least you will not worry about me being a traitor anymore. Besides, it is only Tristan whom I want you to keep it from. I will tell him in my own time." She pleaded.

"Tristan?" Arthur asked incredulously. At this, Alyna nodded. He did not bother to ask anymore. "Alright. I will give you my word as long as you will give me yours that you will tell him when the time is right for you."

"I give you my word, Arthur." She answered with as much dignity as Arthur exuded. "Where shall I start?" she asked, looking up.

"I would suggest from the very beginning." Arthur answered, his eyes full of mirth.

"We only have two days before we reach the Roman estate, Arthur, as Gawain said." She retorted with as much amusement. Thus, Alyna began her story in complete confidence in Arthur's word.

"They have the woman."

"She would have been useful for information. The woman has roamed the land for quite some time now."

"There was nothing we could - "

"Through her we could have gained more information about Arthur and his knights!" another cut in.

"There was nothing we could do!"

"Nothing? There were more of you!"

"Enough!" Merlin intervened. Bantering with each other was no way to solve the problem. "What's done is done. Let us just prepare for our next encounter with Artorious."

"We should have killed them, Merlin."

"There might yet be use for Artorious and his knights."

The ghostly dialect of the rebels drifted through the eerie forest as they continued to argue about their next plan. Indeed, there were many things running through Merlin's mind, while the unsuspecting knights and their new companion rode to their destination as swift as an eagle in flight.

AN: As I said, sorry for the delay, guys. I got sick and we had so many projects in school. Anyway, I hoped you liked this chapter. Please review, okay? Give me more inspiration! :-)