Three

It took most of the day to reach the boundaries surrounding the North Wall. Both Galahad and Tristan kept their weapons close at hand. The woods were quiet almost to the point it was omnious. The trees were sleeping now in early winter, but looked dead to the naked eye. Their branches curved and twisted like creatures arms. Galahad shuddered slightly at the site. He was not afraid, per se, but he would still mich rather walk in the graveyard at night then lay eyes upon the forests now.

Tristan, as usual, was cooly riding onward, not seeming bothered by his surroundings at all. His hawk stay on his forearm always, nibling at his clothed fingers playfully. Galahad wondered how one person could let everything they feel bottled up inside. It was queer, disturbing, and somehow almost unnatural. He could see why Tristan was this way, though. He had always been quiet like this, never telling anyone anything. Galahad was beginning to think Tristan just didn't care. He lived to fight and fought for himself. The two riders stopped their horses and peered around the perimeter.

"I will follow the trail ahead and take a look around," Tristan said. "You back-track along the forest edge; call me if you find anything."

Galahad silently nodded and manuevered his horse around Tristan's. He rode back to the omnious forest and sighed heavily.

"Great," Galahad said to himself. "Have Galahad go and check out the creepy trees. This is truly my day, isn't it?"

He kept beating himself up with his own words. Galahad dismounted and headed into the forest, his sword at his side.

"Gods, Galahad, you're such an idiot! The first time you speak with him, you have to go and say something stupid," he said. "'I like your hawk'" What next will you say wrong?"

Suddenly, Galahad felt a nudge on his shoulder. He jumped as he turned to see Tristan come out of nowhere.

"Holy Gods, Tristan!" Galahad exclaimed. "If I didn't know better, I'd think you were a ghost in the trees the way you sneak up behind someone like that!"

"I usually have that effect on people," Tristan replied proudly, as he walked ahead of Galahad. "But, you, my friend, speak loud enough for the whole damned forest to hear."

Turning pale from embarassment, Galahad wondered how much Tristan had heard. A lump stayed at the back of the younger knight's throat as he followed the scout. The scout looked back at him momentarily and quirked his eyeborw. Then, he continued on, walking and searching. Illiana the hawk flew overhead and let out a high-pitched screech to her master below.

"The tree tops are safe," Tristan said.

"How did you gather that?" Galahad asked.

"A little bird told me," Tristan said sarcastically.

"She speaks to you, and you understand her?" Galahad was intrigued.

"Let's just say she and I have an understanding of one another," the scout answered.

Tristan unsheathed his slender blade and began cutting down vine-like weeds and brush. Galahad went to the other side of him and helped.

"We will make camp here tonight. You can use the brush and sticks around here to start a fire," Tristan said, turning to leave.

"Where are you going?" the youngest knight asked.

Tristan responded without looking back, "We've got to eat, haven't we?"

Galahad caught a glimpse of the bow and arrows strapped to his back as Tristan walked from sight.

"Sure, you go hunt," Galahad whispered, "I'll play the woman's role once again...no problem..."

The knight scratched his head as he began looking for suitable materials for building a fire. He knew that it wouldn't take Tristan long to find and kill something. If Galahad wanted to eat cooked meat tonight, he knew he had better get the fire going quickly.

After starting a small blaze, Galahad sat in front of the flames and cracked his back, neck, and knucles. When Tristan returned, he had brought with him four rabbits. Sitting back, Galahad watched as Tristan did all the cleaning and skinning and cooking without a second glance up at Galahad. The young knight wasn't surprised at Tristan's habits; the scout had been used to being alone often.

The two knights ate with exchanging a single word. Tristan spent half his time feeding bits of rabbit to his hawk. Galahad watched intently, but averted his eyes whenever the older knight shot him a look. After they finished eating, Tristan released Illiana into the cool night air.

"You have trained her well," Galahad said.

"She's not trained," Tristan replied. "I let her go, but she always comes back. It's all part of our understanding, I told you."

"Perhaps she sees something in you."

"She'd be the first."

"I'm not so sure."

Tristan's eyes looked up at Galahad, who swore he could see rings of fire burn withing the scout's gaze.

"What are you getting at, Galahad?"

"I'm sorry, I shouldn't have said anything. It's nothing; I'm sorry."

"Sorry for what? Have you said something wrong?"

Galahad knew Tristan was trying to walk him into a trap. A mere mind game where winner takes all. The young knight clasped his hand over his knees and shrugged uneasily.

"I meant nothing by it, Tristan, really," Galahad protested.

"Then, perhaps, Galahad, you would remember well to not speak of things that could cause trouble," Tristan snapped. He was hurting; boy, was he hurting.

"Or heartbreak," Galahad's words trailed off.

"What was that?" the scout asked.

Galahad's bluish-green eyes flashed towards Tristan. "I said maybe we should sleep for it will soon be day-break."

The scout's lips held a scowl still, for Galahad knew he had hit a sore spot in Tristan's heart. Galahad turned away from the older knight and lay down on his right side. He kept his sword near him as he closed his eyes and slept.

Galahad's eyes opened slightly, only enough to survey his surroundings. It was still dark and the fire had dimmed to a soft glow. He turned onto his left side quietly and saw the outline of Tristan's body sitting on the other side of the dying flames. He listened, yet Galahad heard nothing come from the knight; he was sure the scout was still awake, though. He opened his mouth to say something, but figured he had all ready caused enough trouble between them for one night.

Near dawn, Galahad and Tristan were met by Bors and Dagonet.

"We've come to relieve you, knights," Dagonet said. "Go home until your next watch."

Galahad was in as bad as mood as Tristan was by now. He nodded curtly to the two knights and mounted his dark brown steed. Flipping back his curly hair from his face, Galahad looked over at Tristan for a moment before kicking the flanks of his horse and riding back to town.

End, 'Three.'