Running down the hall I slid to a stop in front of my door. No one was there. Opening my door and stepping in I saw that no one was there.
Damn that old man!
He had to make me do it three more times. Now I have missed Tristum and I have absolutely no idea where to find him. Great. The one part of the day that I was looking foreword to.
Sighing, I walked over to my bed and flopped down on it. It was really rather soft.
Well you can stay here and do nothing or you can get up and go exploring. Like that was a really had decision. Exploring.
Getting up I walked over to my drawers and pulled out a pair of jeans and a shirt. After putting them on and my black converse, I brushed my hair and was getting ready to leave when someone knocked on my door. Putting my brush down and went over to open it, only to be brushed aside as the person hastily entered and slammed the door shut behind him.
" Well, hello Tristum,'' I said as I finally recognized him.
His hair was in his face, obscuring it from view, and he was breathing heavily as if he had run all the way to my room.
" Hullo,'' he gasped as he leaned exhaustedly on the back of the door.
" Merlin kept me so long that I was sure that I had missed you,'' I said excitedly.
" Huh…'' he said as he brushed his hair out of his face with one of his hands, "Same thing with me, only it was Arthur. He kept me by his side all day. I was finally able to go when I told him I need to use the privy, for about the tenth time.''
At hearing this I started laughing and a second later Tristum joined in too.
" You know,'' Tristum said, "I don't think he liked the idea of me spending time with you at all.''
"Yeah, Merlin said something like that too, it was along the lines of being alone with an unmarried man though,'' I said.
Looking down Tristum said, "I was going to invite Arthur along but he was just to…over-baring today and I couldn't think of anyone else I could ask. I doubt the others would approve of teaching you sword play.''
" You don't have any other friends?'' I asked.
"No I'm only newly arrived at court,'' replied Tristum.
"Well that makes two of us,'' I said dryly.
Looking up Tristum smiled and said, "Don't worry I can still teach you today. Before I came here I rode out and hid everything we would need in a meadow. The only hard part will be slipping out of the castle, but I've come up with an idea already. You will have to put this cloak on over your clothes.'' He then handed me the cloak that I just noticed he had.
Looking down at my clothes for the first time his jaw dropped and he just stared.
" Like it?'' I asked as I twirled so he could get a good look at what I was wearing or the shirt at least because that was what he was staring at.
It was one of my favorites. It was a black shirt with two mug shots of Jim Morrison, the leader of The Doors, and underneath one it said something along the lines of 'caught by the man.'
A stunned Tristum managed to say, " how is it possible? Is it a painting?''
" No, my poor, medieval deprived friend, it is not a painting. It's the future don't question it,'' I said simply, "Just gaze at him and bask in his light.''
Needless to say Tristum looked at me as if I was crazy but only for a moment because he went back to looking at Mr. Morrison, with a look of awe on his face.
"Who is he and who is the man that caught him?'' asked Tristum.
" He is one of the greatest singers that ever lived and the man that caught him wasn't a 'man' buy authority,'' I explained.
After a time Tristum shifted his gaze back to my face and said, " I don't understand but I hope you will explain it to me more with greater detail later. At the moment I think it best that we leave before any one finds us.''
"O.k.''
Grabbing the dark, green cloak from his hand, I put it on and pulled down the hood. As I assumed that that was the whole point of the cloak.
Glancing at me Tristum reached out and adjusted the cloak before nodding and turning towards the door. Opening it he looked out, glanced in both directions before walking out, motioning me to follow him.
It took us some time but we managed to make our way through the corridors and out to a courtyard where Tristum had two horses waiting,
Seeing this I groaned and tugged on Tristum's cloak.
Turning to look at me with a question on his face I hissed, "I can't ride!''
Tristum groaned and hissed back, " It would look odd for two men to be ridding a horse together.''
"Well I'd rather look odd then not and fall down and break my neck.''
Tristum cursed under his breath before nodding his consent.
Putting me on his horse he jumped behind me and said, "Now sit side saddle….good….now bring up your feet. I'm going to try and hide you within my cloak.''
" I'm going to fall,'' I hissed at him angrily.
"You're not going to fall,'' he said, "I'll wrap an arm around you to see that you don't.''
"If I fall down and die I want you to know that I'm going to come back and haunt you when I'm a ghost.''
Exasperated Tristum said, "I wont let you fall, now stay still.''
Sighing I wrapped my arms around his middle and held on for dear life. When the horse started moving I think that I held on so tightly that Tristum couldn't breath because he pinched me an my side. I loosened up my grip a bit but not that much; I wasn't about to fall just because he couldn't do a little thing like breath.
When no one could see us Tristum pulled off the cloak and hissed, "Let go, I can't breath.''
Letting go I heard him take a deep breath then start laughing.
"It's not funny,'' I muttered as I moved to sit on the horse correctly.
Which only made him laugh more.
I turned my head so I could give him what I hoped was my best withering glare.
"Alright, alright,'' He gasped trying to sober himself up, "We'll just have to find someone to teach you how to ride. Which wont be hard because noble women are allowed to ride. But you have to admit it was funny, I thought I was going to burst out laughing in front of the guard.''
Grumbling to myself I turned forward and said, "Just get this thing to take us to where we're supposed to be.''
Still slightly laughing Tristum did what he was asked. After a while when I was done being mad at Tristum for laughing at my disabilities, I realized where we were headed and said, " Tristum, this is where Merlin took me this morning to teach me magic.''
I felt him go stiff behind me before he said, " He's not still here is he?''
" No he came back with me,'' I replied.
Sighing Tristum said, "Good.''
After a few more minuets Tristum stopped the horse and helped me get off before tying it to a small tree. He then reached down and lifted two swords from the ground.
Looking over at me he said, "Ready?''
Nodding I walked over and reached out for the sword that Tristum held out and almost dropped it as soon as I got it. It was way heavier then it looked!
" You got that right,'' Tristum said when he saw my shocked expression, " We will begin with some exercises to get you used to its weight and to strengthen your muscles. This is not going to be easy.'' He finished sternly.
I nodded my head still amazed that a sword could weigh so much.
" First thing I'm going to do is show you how to hold a sword properly. Now watch.'' Tristum walked over, stood behind me and repositioned my fingers around the sword.
" Good. Now I'm going to show you a series of warm up exercises. If you can you should try to do them at least once a day. It will help you to become used to the sword and its weight.''
For the next two hour Tristum showed me his sword maneuvers and made me show them back to him till he knew that I got it. My arm was beyond hurting, when Tristum moved on to the feet movements, I thought that it was going to fall off.
Not that I was going to complain or anything I had asked for this, and I wanted it. How many people can say that they were taught how to fight with a sword by one of the legendary knights from the round table? Plus I was starting my way in becoming…a person with magic. (Merlin is a druid, so does that make me one too?) Anyway the point is that I could become the first sword wielding/magic-person-thingy female in this time. Now that would be some accomplishment indeed.
It was at this moment in my future fantasizes that Tristum hit me with his sword on my head.
" Owe!'' I said rubbing the spot on my head that had just been victimized.
" Pay attention then. Now as I was saying…'' Tristum suddenly trailed off looking at something behind me.
"Now who's the one not paying attention?'' I teased as I turned around to see what he was looking at and seeing it my mouth went dry too.
Ridding towards us was Launcelot, Merlin and riding at there head was Arthur.
He had a look on his face that chilled me to the bone. The only thing I could think about was 'no wonder he had won so many battles.'