Chapter 2

Once Caedis got into her tent, she lost it. "What the hell is going on? This guy - That you have been dreaming about for a long time now - comes strolling in here, and suddenly everything I've ever known is...What? Shattered? Is it really so bad that there's someone out there who isn't like Cyrnic? Who isn't going to - Don't think that." She sighed, unconscious shoving her things into her bag. He made you melt, Caedis. All he had to do was touch you, and you forgot where you were. "What is it about Tristan that I can't resist?" The fact that he's literally the man of your dreams. You've been dreaming about him for a long time. And not just someone LIKE him. You've been dreaming about HIM. Tristan. The Sarmatian Knight. "Am I really supposed to think he's my knight in shining armor?" Why not? "This is RIDICULOUS! He's just a guy! A guy that happens to be the one I've been dreaming about. It's probably just...A coincidence? Get real, Caedis. I know. It is strange. I've been dreaming about this guy -" She walked out of her tent towards the makeshift horse stable where her horse was kept. "-and he comes strolling in here, his commander saving my life...Hi, Ganis..." He waved, giving her a strange look. "...and he's looking at me like -"

"Ah, Caedis? Are you alright?" Ganis broke her out of her trance.

"Huh? Oh, yeah. I'm fine, Ganis. Why?"

"You're talking to yourself. Out loud."

"Am I?" She looked horrified. "Oh Gods! I thought I was just thinking all that! Tristan isn't around is he? I don't want him thinking I'm crazy." She looked around wildly. When she was satisfied he wasn't around, she calmed down, took a deep breath, and looked at Ganis. He was still giving her a weird look. "I think I AM crazy, Ganis." She sat down on a bench and took a deep breath.

"Caedis. You are not crazy." Ganis sat next to her. "And I saw the way he was looking at you, too. So that's him, huh?"

"Yeah. That's him. That's the guy I've been dreaming about." She looked at Ganis. "You don't think I'm crazy?"

"I know you're not crazy. We all talk to ourselves every now and then. And right now, it sounds like you have a good reason to be."

Caedis looked away and saw Tristan coming towards the stables. She quickly got up and readied her horse, Anaba. She stole an apologetic look to Ganis before turning to Tristan. "Hello." She said as he approached.

"Are you ready to go?"

"Almost. I just have to -" She turned sharply towards her bag and felt a searing pain in her hip again. She felt his arm wrap around her waist and pull her to him just before she hit the stable floor.

"You really shouldn't be walking on that." He helped her to the bench. She sat carefully and watched as he finished readying Anaba, then attached her bag to the saddle.

Gods, I can't believe this is happening. She thought. I can't believe I'm just sitting here and letting some guy basically take care of me. She stood up and half walked half limped towards him. He held out a hand to her, and almost reflexively Caedis took it. What am I doing! She looked into his eyes and saw that same look of care that had been in them earlier.

"Are you going to be ok to ride?"

"Yeah, I'll be fine." As long as you ride next to me the whole way...GODS I didn't just think that! She took Anaba's lead and led him out of the stable. Looking around, she saw most of the village finishing their preparations to leave. Then she heard the drums again, much clearer. She looked at Tristan, trying to keep the panic out of her voice. "We have to go. Now." He nodded, jumped on his horse and took off in the direction of the temple. Caedis followed, forgetting about her hip.

They found Arthur carrying a girl out of the temple. Tristan took one look at the girl, and said quietly, "She's a woad." He turned towards the drums, then back at Arthur. "We have to go, Arthur." Caedis, next to Tristan, nodded emphatically. Moment's later, they were on their way.

Caedis rode along side Tristan, feeling safer near him with the drums of the saxons coming up behind them quickly.

"You're friendly with the Roamn boy?"

"Yes." Caedis replied. "He's only a few years younger than I am, and he's far beyond his years in intelligence. He was the first to accept me when I came here a few years ago. We've been friends ever since."

"And no one else would accept you because...?"

"I'm Pagan. Everyone else here is christian."

"I see." He smiled at her. "I know how you feel. All of us knights are Pagan. Well, except Arthur."

"We're never going to outrun the saxons at this pace, Tristan." Caedis proclaimed, changing the subject.

"I know. But Arthur has this thing about saving people's lives. I don't know if you noticed that."

"Yeah, I did. And on my part, I appreciate it. He seems like a good man."

"He is." Tristan replied.

They rode for a while in silence, until Arthur decided they would stop and camp for the night.

Caedis dismounted next to Tristan, who put a hand on her back to make sure she didn't fall. They moved off into the trees, and found a spot near camp to sit. Shivering, Caedis hugged herself for warmth as the two chatted idolly for a while. After a while, Tristan seemed to take pity on Caedis, and put his arms around her, hugging her close to him. Finding herself this close to the man of her dreams once again, Caedis relaxed almost instinctively. They continued to talk, about Arthur, the mission the knights were forced to take, and the village Caedis grew up in. Eventually, the topic turned to the Saxons. Feeling she could trust Tristan, she opened up to him like she had to no other. She told him of her encounter with the Saxons a few years back.

"I was on my way to, well, anywhere, I guess, with a couple of friends of mine; Marcus and Elizabeth. We also had Elizabeth's two little sisters, Emma and Faith with us. Anyways, we heard these drums behind us, and figuring we could hide well enough when the army finally came upon us, we didn't think too much of it. They overtook us while we slept." She sniffled and felt a tear roll down her cheek. Tristan was looking at her solemnly, giving her his full attention. "They killed Marcus almost immediately. And they made me watch as they raped, then killed Elizabeth. The second in command, Cerdic, decided to keep me alive, and with him, to be his slave. A toy to do with as he pleased." More tears. "Night after night, he raped me, using Emma and Faith as bait. 'Don't fight or I'll have them killed.' I was all they had left, and I couldn't let them be killed, so I didn't fight him. Until one night, when I decided to grab the girls and run. We didn't get far, though. Cerdic killed the girls himself and came for me, but out of no where came the woads. While they were focused on them, I ran. I ran until I got to the edge of that village, where Ganis found me, almost dead from exhaustion and dehydration." Too ashamed to look Tristan in the eyes, she looked out into the woods. After a few minutes of silence, she felt his hold on her strengthen, and she buried her face in his chest, tears still streaming down her face.

She felt one of his arms move, and looked up. He brought his hand up to her face, and gently caressed it. The look in his eyes told Caedis everything. I won't tell anyone about this, but should we face these Saxons, I'll kill Cerdic myself. They seemed to say. I care about you like I've known you forever, and I know you feel the same, but I won't push you be with me. When you're ready, I'll be here. Caedis smiled, letting him know she understood, and appreciated him more for it. He kissed her forehead, and hugged her close again. They fell into a light sleep like that.