Thanks to all the reviewers.
Twelve
Later that night...
Tristan made his way back to camp at dusk and reached it just after. He saw that many of the other knights were all ready sleeping, or preparing for sleep. It was going to be a long day tomarrow. Leaving Illiana to make her midnight rounds for food in the forest, Tristan walked back into camp. Just as he did, he noticed Lancelot sitting alone near a campfire. His eyes reflected the flames in them, showing how deep in thought the knight was. Tristan kept walking toward his tent, until Lancelot's smooth voice called out to him.
"Tristan," he said. "Come join me by the fire."
Turning on his heels, Tristan replied, "I did not know I needed permission for such a task."
"It wasn't; it was more a friendly request," Lancelot answered. "But, if it's permission you want, permission granted."
Cocking his head back, Tristan gradually back-tracked his steps until he was beside the fire. He sat on the dried log on the ground next to Lancelot and peered into the fire.
"So, what did Arthur ask you?" Lancelot wondered, sitting forward.
"Is that what you wanted me to come over here about, what Arthur said?" Tristan retorted.
"Just making conversation, Tristan," Lancelot replied, putting up his hands for a moment. "No need to get so defensive."
"Who's being defensive?" Tristan put his own foot in his mouth and Lancelot grinned slightly.
After a moment of silence, Tristan replied, "He asked me to scout for him from now on."
"It is a brave and important job. I believe it will suit you well, will it not?" Lancelot asked, cracking sticks and thowing them into the fire.
"If it means I get to see less of your ugly faces, then yes, it does," Tristan joked.
Lancelot threw back his head and laughed. "Tristan, I am glad to see that underneath it all, you still make room to have a sense of humor. You should show it more often."
"So, I can be just like the rest of them here?" Tristan said. "No thanks; I'd rather walk into woad territory unarmed."
"Aww, come on, the guys aren't all bad."
"Maybe so."
"Then, what's the problem?"
"No problem, I just think they don't take their jobs as seriously as they should. If they were ambushed tonight, not one of the drunken bastards would even be able to stand, let alone fight and defend themselves!"
"I don't know, Tristan. They might surprise you someday."
"Let's hope not."
Lancelot quirked an eyebrow at the scout. "Why not?"
Tristan looked at Lancelot through strands of dark hair. "Because I hate surprises."
"Of course, I should have known," Lancelot smiled, leaning back and gazing up at the starlit sky.
A moment later, Tristan looked over the the younger knight and smiled, bemused, for he had fallen asleep. Silently, the scout rose and retreated back to the forest area. He would sleep better there alone, and he would also be able to listen for any possible intruders at the same time...
Opening his eyes, Tristan sat up and peered around the perimeter. Everyone was still asleep, and the area was secure. He could smell the drops of dew that clung to the early morning. Dawn would soon be upon them. Standing, Tristan stretched and began his short hike to the top of the hill to watch the sunrise. As he approached it, though, he was surprised to see that someone had all ready filled his spot upon the hill. Tristan watched the man curiously for a moment and concluded that he was no enemy, but a knight. The knight was younger, possibly around Galahad or Gawain's age. His face held a sense of untouched youth, and his eyes were quite serene. He seemed so focused and at peace with the world around him. Tristan wondered if the man noticed anything besides the rising sun, which he seemed to be watching.
Tristan just stood a way behind the other knight and watched the beautiful sunrise. He closed his eyes for a moment, taking in the warm rays of the sun. He knew that there would not be many more suns like this one. The days were getting shorter and the nights longer. Lost in the moment, Tristan didn't realize that the other knight had noticed him until he was practically by Tristan's side.
"Beautiful, is it not?" the man said, nodding at the sun.
Tristan straightened up and looked at the man.
"The days are grower colder, as well as shorter. Winter will be upon us soon enough," Tristan replied.
The man agreed. "I've been watching sunrise for as long as I can remember. Each one more beautiful than the last. It is refreshing to see that I am not Mother Nature's only admirer."
Tristan didn't say anything as he looked the man over more closely, but only nodded. The man extended his hand to him.
"Forgive me, we have not been introduced," the man said. "My name is Percival. And, you are?"
Not seeing any harm in shaking the man's hand, Tristan did so. "Tristan."
"Ah, yes, I've heard of you from Arthur just last evening."
"News travels fast, does it?"
"He said that you are his new scout. I take it that this job is agreeable for you?"
"If it wasn't, I wouldn't have taken it. Speaking of, I need to be attending my duties as of now."
Percival stepped back and placed his hands behind his back.
"Of course, don't let me keep you. It has been a pleasure, I hope we can talk again."
Nodding, Tristan left the rather perky man as he made his way back into the forest to scout. Strangely, throughout the entire morning scout, Tristan couldn't get Percival from his mind. The knight was different from all the others somehow. He seemed pure and uncorrupted of a knight's daily life. Chuckling to himself, Tristan thought that if Percival had another name, it would be innocence.
Just as he rode back from scouting, Tristan noticed fresh footprints on the ground. His eyes opened widely as he raced back to camp to inform Arthur of his findings.
Stopping just before the commander, Tristan said, "Arthur, we have to get moving now."
"What have you found, Tristan?" the commander asked.
"Woad tracks, not more than a mile from camp," the scout replied.
Arthur nodded in acknowledgement as he mounted his horse. Lancelot rode up to the two. Tristan looked from him andback to Arthur.
"We will follow you directly. I want you to ride ahead, Tristan and make sure the path is clear," Arthur ordered.
Tristan looked from Arthur back to Lancelot for a moment, before he turned his horse around and headed back out onto the trail.
Arthur spoke to the rest of the knights as they mounted their horses. "We will split up to avoid a possible woad ambush. I will only need a few of you to come along with me on the more dangerous trail. The rest of you will go another way and meet up with us in a day at the next fort-town."
Gazing around at his knights, Arthur chose the men that would ride with him. "Lancelot, Dagonet, Bors, Gawain, Galahad, and Percival. You six will follow Tristan and I. The rest of you, be careful and take great care; see you in a day. Dismissed!"
The six appointed knights walked their horses through the crowd of knights going in the opposite direction. Drawing Excalibur, Arthur led them into the forest, following Tristan's trail.
The knights and Arthur soon caught up with Tristan, as he awaited their arrival near the river. Arthur rode up to the scout, with Excalibur still in his hand.
"Report," Arthur said.
"Woad tracks to the western and northern roads; we have no choice but to travel east," Tristan replied, sitting forward in his saddle.
Noticing the other six knights behind Arthur, Tristan raised an eyebrow to his commander.
"You would travel with so few a knight?" Tristan wondered.
"If I didn't truly believe that you seven weren't good enough, I wouldn't have invited you along," Arthur replied outright.
"Fair enough," Tristan answered, manuevering his horse to fall in line with the others.
Lancelot glanced ot Tristan, but then at Percival when he saw the scout watching him.
He leaned in by him and whispered, "Friend of yours?"
Tristan let out a chuckle, "We hardly met, so I could hardly call him a friend of mine."
Raising his arm high, Tristan whistled for Illiana, whom was flying overhead. Gently, the hawk swooped down and landed on the scout's forearm. Percival came upon the other side of Tristan's horse and smiled.
"Magnificent creature you have there, Tristan," Percival said.
"So they keep telling me," Tristan replied, stroking the bird.
"Is she tame?" Percival wondered.
"No," Tristan shook his head.
"Good, because then again, neither are you," he added with a grin.
Tristan watched the younger knight as he rode ahead to speak with Gawain and Galahad. Peering over at Lancelot, he noticed that the knight had suddenly went silent. He didn't know what to say to him. Feeling awkward again, Tristan rode ahead of Arthur and the others to scout the road ahead.
End, 'Twelve.'