Disclaimer: Syeira's mine...that's about it.
Sorry for the wait, but I couldn't get this part uploaded but here it is. I worked hard to make it longer and I am pleased with how it turned out. As I hinted before we get to see one of Tristan's memories from home. There are going to be more and more as the story goes on getting further into Syeira's character and Tristan's background.
LANCELOTTRISTANBABY - Yeah, they are really close and you'll see it more as the story goes on.
modernprincess - Made this chapter somewhat longer, hope you enjoy reading it.
Babaksmiles - I hated when the knights died in the movie. I remember watching it the first time at the theatres and when Tristan died I was sooooo mad.
Cherry - Tristan's one of my favs too. I wanted give him a story, and a family with this fic.
Evenstar-mor2004 - Glad you liked it. I never really find what I write to be super good but I have to admit, chapter 3 is growing on me.
Elfvamp1-13-97 - Enjoy the chapter
camlann - I was originally going to make this a one shot called, How He Got His Braids but it evolved into this. I'm glad it did, because I love writing Syeira's character.
katemary77 - It will take awhile for romance to become a big factor in the story. She just got there and I want her to get to know the knights if she actually falls for one.
JediPirateElfyDude - Thanks for the spelling of Britain. I wasn't sure but it's fixed now. Enjoy the chapter.
dog tags - Glad you liked it so much, hope you enjoy this one just as much.
Ammira - Sorry I had you a bit worried for a while, but it all turned out for the better. lol You're right, I thought I wrote a weak chapter and I got really good feedback. I need to give myself a bit more credit sometimes.
Tracy137 - Good to know I'm believable. Happy that you like my story because I love yours. Enjoy the chapter.
On With The Story...
Chapter 4: Awakening
Syeira's eyes fluttered open and it took her a minute to realize where she was. All the memories of Badon Hill and Tristan came flooding back in a second. With her head still rested on the bed she brought her gaze up to her brother's face.
'Still asleep, well at least you're alive. I wish you would wake soon, there is much we need to talk about.'
"Well, well Sleeping Beauty had finally awoken." A voice behind her said. Turning around she saw the injured curly haired knight from the battle, the one she heard the other knights call Lancelot. But now instead of being unconscious, he had a grin plastered on his face and eyes that glimmered with confidence. He was sitting up in his bed, propped up with pillows and had bandages wrapped around his chest.
"Indeed she has." Gawain was standing at the door with a tray of food.
"Well, I never thought I'd see the day when you would be waiting on me. It's a nice change Gawain." Lancelot said smugly. The longhaired knight scoffed.
"It isn't for you, it's for Syeira." Lancelot looked a bit disappointed that the food wasn't for him but he placed the smirk back on his face.
"I didn't know we were in the company of a princess." He recognized what her name meant. "So you're acquainted with our silent scout? I never knew that he had such good taste in women." Gawain was about to say something but Syeira shot him a look that told him to wait.
'Thinks he's quite the ladies man. This could be fun.'
"Oh yeah, me and Tristan go years back. I've known him my whole life." A look of realization appeared on his face.
"All your life? Then you must be from Sarmatia." She nodded with a smirk to match Lancelot's on her face.
"I haven't seen someone from home in fifteen years, aside from my brother knights. Bors was wrong, there are definitely still attractive women left there. Hey Gawain, I have found you that beautiful Sarmatian woman you always dreamed to marry. You'll just have to get her away from Tristan first. But I think that I might get in your way, she is incredibly beautiful." Lancelot laughed. Looking at Gawain she saw that his cheeks were a bit pink but he was shaking his head at his clueless friend.
'This is going to be good.'
Turning her attention back to Lancelot a glint of mirth danced in her eyes. "Well, I think Gawain is a fine gentleman and would make some woman very happy one day. But you, Sir Knight are what I take to be of the womanizing sort. Not the kind of man I think my brother, Tristan would want for me."
All the cockiness flew from his face.
'Is that a tad bit of fear, I see?'
"Brother!" He exclaimed.
The shocked look on his face was priceless, his eyebrows shot up into his hair while his eyes went wide. He looked quite comical with his mouth hanging open sending Gawain and Syeira into hysterical laughter. Gawain had to put the tray on a near by table not to drop it as he collapsed into a chair beside Lancelot's bed. Syeira was gripping the arms of her chair to keep herself from falling to the floor.
"I don't see what's so funny! Tristan is right there! He could kill me in my sleep! Gawain, why didn't you stop me!" Lancelot was frantic, definitely in fear of his life. Gawain still hadn't composed himself but a voice immediately ceased the Sarmatian woman's laughter.
"Syeira?" murmured Tristan.
The sun was high in the sky and the rolling hills of Sarmatia whistled as the wind rushed through the grasses. A fourteen-year-old Tristan was standing on the top of the hill that over looked his small village. With his eyes closed he let the wind flow through his hair and sweep across his face. A smile played across his lips as he heard light footsteps tip toe behind him.
"I know you're there." The footsteps broke into a run and Tristan was pushed forward as someone jumped on his back.
"How do you always know I'm coming?" Wrapping his arms around her legs he supported his sister and she circled her arms around his neck.
"You're too loud."
"Loud? I couldn't even hear myself…You're amazing Tristan, teach me how you do it."
"Do what?"
"Everything." He chuckled and started to walk down the hill with Syeira still on his back.
It had been two months since their mother had died and Syeira was finally smiling again. She took her death the hardest out of everyone in their small family. Syeira spent most of her days helping her mother and now with her gone she didn't know what to do. She cried for a while, like anyone would but then she just stopped being happy all together. She didn't smile, merely going on day-to-day just being there. It worried Tristan and his father, so they tried to include her in all their activities, especially Tristan's training. The whole new world that Syeira was introduced to, captivated her in a way that brought out the bright, outspoken little girl back that everyone once knew.
"I wish mother was here to see me. I am going to be a fighter just like her. Do you think Father would let me use her sword one day?"
"I'm sure he will, but you'll have to wait till you're older."
"I know, I know. I'll bet I'll be better than you some day." Tristan raised an eyebrow.
"Is that so?" He said turning his head so he could see her smiling face.
"Yup, you'll see when I'm the one saving you."
"Oh I see how it is now, you're only keeping me around till you don't need me anymore."
"I'll always need you." Syeira started playing with one of his braids and laughing. Tristan just continued walking.
"Tristan?"
"Hmm?"
"I wish I could smile all the time."
"Why can't you? Don't you like smiling?"
"I love it, but I'm not always happy. I can't smile if I'm not happy."
"Well then I'll just have to make sure you are happy all the time then."
"How are you going to do that?"
"Like this." He pulled the small girl over his shoulder and flipped her down on the grass and started to tickle her.
Syeira was having fits of hysterical laughter while trying to roll away from her brother but he wouldn't let her get away. When she laughed she always sounded so full of life and cheery. That simple carefree act is what brought him back to her.
Tristan awoke to see Syeira sitting next to his bed grabbing her sides in hysterics.
"Syeira?" He murmured out and instantly she turned around and looked at him like he wasn't even real.
"Tristan…" She whispered. In a second she was hugging him tightly.
"You're awake! Thank Goddess; you're awake! Don't you ever do that to me again. I thought I almost lost you." Ignoring the aching pain shooting though his side he brought his good arm around her and hugged her as tight as he could. He had almost forgotten how much he missed her.
After she was done scolding him for scaring her so much she pulled away but held his hand. Seeing the pained look on his face she instantly felt stupid.
'He's just been stabbed in the side and you go and hug him. You could have reopened his wounds!'
"I'm sorry, I hurt you didn't I?" He shook his head.
"Don't worry about it. I didn't feel a thing." Syeira didn't look convinced and made no effort to hide the look of concern on her face. He just smiled at her.
"I love you, Syeira."
"I love you too, big brother."
The healers at the fort said that both knights were for sure on their way to recovery. Lancelot was out of the infirmary after three days, and couldn't have been more pleased to leave his bed. His left arm would bother him for a while. The Saxon bolt hit him in the shoulder and affected his grip and strength in his arm but the effects wouldn't be permanent. Tristan was another story. His injuries were more serious and required for him to rest more so he could recover. He was moved back into his own room the day Lancelot left. Syeira only left his side to check on her horse and that was only when he was asleep.
The second day Tristan was awake she had broke the news to him that their father was dead. She could see the sadness behind his eyes; he wanted to see him again. Their father's death had been the reason she went searching for her brother. She didn't have any family left in Sarmatia after that, so she sought out her last living relative, Tristan. After countless hours of talking it seemed that the two siblings had never been separated, being now filled in on each other's lives.
It had been almost a week since the battle at Badon Hill and Tristan would be able to leave his room soon. During that time, Syeira was properly introduced to Arthur, Guinivere, Bors and Vanora. All the knights would visit her and the scout through out the day. She didn't see Arthur or Guinivere much. They were busy with preparations because the two were set to be wed in a month's time and Merlin had announced that Arthur was to become the new King of Britain.
Syeira instantly hit it off with Galahad since they were the same age but she couldn't help but tease him, like the other knights, for being the youngest. He would always ask her about her journey to Britain and what Sarmatia was like now. He was fascinated by the stories from his homeland.
Lancelot never ceased to try and work his charm on her, but did it subtly. He didn't want to get on Tristan's bad side for hitting on his sister. Syeira would usually play along but take shots at him every once in a while for her own amusement.
Vanora would be the one to bring them meals, even after Syeira insisted that she could, Vanora still didn't hear any of it. Bors would come along with her and would go on and on about his children. After his service to Rome was over, Vanora made him spend more time with his "lil bastards" as he called them. Bors didn't strike Syeira as the fatherly type, more like the kooky uncle that would let you get away with anything, but he seemed quite taken with parenthood.
When Gawain came by to visit, she would always be laughing. Although the physical resemblance between Tristan and Syeira was inescapable, with thick dark hair, defined facial features and dark eyes, they couldn't have had more different personalities. Tristan was calm and always quiet, quick and to the point. Syeira was loud, outspoken and always cheerful. She also didn't talk like a lady. Her sense of humour was more bold and forward, like Lancelot's. Her and Gawain could go on for hours joking back and forth, even Tristan would get a few laughs in.
The silent scout had changed slowly before the knights' eyes. He talked more and he smiled too. Tristan still had that dangerous edge to him. That is what Lancelot was still a bit uneasy about. Still fearing that one night he would go to bed and wake up with a dagger in his arm or something of the sort.
The sun's light was dying as Lancelot entered Tristan's room with his trademark grin plastered on his face.
"Gawain says it's his birthday today, none of us really believe him but it is an excuse to throw a bit of a party in the tavern tonight. We were wondering if you wanted to come, Syeira." She hadn't seen most of the fort yet, only the stables and a few of the rooms. She did feel tempted to accept the invitation but she didn't want to leave Tristan all alone.
"Sorry but I"
"She'd love to." Said Tristan cutting her off.
"Excellent. Knock on my door when you want to head down."
"Sure thing." She said and Lancelot left. Turning to her brother and shot him a glare.
"You want to go don't you?" he asked.
"Yes, but "
"But nothing. You've stayed with me for a whole week. Go and have some fun. Do I have to tell you I'm sick of you to get you to leave?"
"Well, I guess I could go for a little while. Are you sure you are going to be all right."
"I'm not a child. I think I will be fine." Still reluctant to leave she kissed her brother on the forehead and got up to head for the door.
Halfway out she turned around and gave him a concerned look.
"Are you really sick of me?" Tristan rolled his eyes.
"Trust me I could never get sick of my little warrior princess." She smiled at the use of her childhood nickname.
"Good." Closing the door gently behind her and set off for her room to get ready for the nights festivities.
A/N: If anyone was wondering, in Tristan's memory Syeira was only 7 and Tristan 14...I think I mentioned his age...The next chapter is Gawain's "Birthday Party". Fun stuff there. Did they even celebrate birthdays? The must have did something. Hmmm... Sorry if that spacing thing happens again. I seriously don't know what does it...Review kindly and I hope to get the next part out soon.