Disclaimer: I don't own anything except Taryn and whoever else I make up.
Authors note: This is my first time writing a fan fiction or anything else. Your great stories have all inspired me. Please review but go easy on me, I'm new.
In Search of Him
Chapter 1
My journey has been a long one, but I was almost there. It had been months since I had set out from home, looking for him. I had gone to post after post with no luck, and now, I was almost at the last one. Someone here had to have heard about him.
I was traveling to a place called Hadrian's wall, in the country of Britain. I have been following a group of men that are said to be heading there. They have not yet seen me, as I have been trying to stay out of sight, I did not want to have to explain my presence to anyone yet. Yes, it had just been me and my horse Black, a magnificent stallion, and a good companion, but I am ready for human companionship, I must know if he is here.
"Well Black, I will be ready to get out of these boys clothes, and into a nice warm bed, how about you boy?" His ears pricked up as I talked to him, but obviously he would not reply, that is when I hear it. A loud screeching noise, looking up I notice a large hawk circling.
"Oh, boy I am jumpy I am not sure this trip was the best idea, but I have to find him, I hope you forgive me Black for dragging you"…. I did not have time to finish that thought, for I was interrupted by an arrow whizzing by my ear. I turn just in time to see a horseman riding at full speed behind me. "Giddy up Black lets get out of here before this crazy man catches us." We were riding through a thick part of the forest without a clear cut trail, but Black a pretty sure footed horse was finding his way without difficulty, until I made my almost fatal error. I turned my head to see if my assailant was gaining any ground, but as I turned back around I did not have time to dodge the large branch.
I hit the ground with a loud thud landing on my right shoulder, there was a pop. Oh the pain was excruciating, I willed myself to get up, and I knew he would be on me in seconds, but my legs gave way to the pain. That is when I felt it, cold steel at the back of my neck.
"Get up" he commanded, it was not loud but in a tone that said disobey me, try anything, and your head will be removed from your body. I could not see his face, but he meant business. I struggled to my feet; thankfully my legs had found strength once again. I was bleeding from the cut on my head, and my arm, oh my arm.
"Walk" his second command, he pointed with his sword to leave the woods, we were not that far from the road, which the men I was following were on. As we reached the edge of the woods I saw that at our fast pace we had indeed overtaken the caravan, and in fact they were all standing there starring at us. I know I must have been a sight blood pouring from my head, my left arm obviously deformed, but they looked at me as if it was nothing out of the ordinary.
There were four of them standing there almost in a half circle, and this is where we stopped. It was not an easy stop, for I was shoved quite roughly to the ground.
"What is this?" The man who obviously seemed in charge asked.
" What" he says, I thought to myself as if I was not even a human being.
"Arthur, this man has been following us, spying on us for days", my captor replied.
"Is this true, tell me who are you and where are you from, why would you follow us, are you a spy, a Woad, Saxon?" He demanded of me.
His questioning was so fast, and in Latin which I speak fairly fluently, but in my present state, the pain, my heart pounding out of my chest, I could neither understand him, nor form any sort of answer.
"Well boy, are you deaf, dumb, or stupid" the man standing to the leaders left asked. This I understood, I looked up to see the arrogant, but very handsome man, with a smirk on his face, ask.
"I am sorry, I began I did not understand him, right now I am having trouble concentrating on anything but the sword held at my neck, and the pain in my arm" I said daring to turn my head and glare at the bearer of the sword. He was a fierce, looking man with his messy hair, and tattooed face, as his eyes met mine, I quickly turned, I had never seen such a calm coldness before, daring me to move.
"Okay" said the cocky man "I will make this easy on you. Who are you" he asked me. I took a deep breath and was about to answer, when I again felt the cold steel at my neck.
"Come on I was getting ready to answer, my name is Taryn" I replied.
"Taryn" snorted a man with hair almost as long as mine answered, "Taryn is a woman's name." "Well probably," I paused these men were getting on my nerves, and oh my arm, "because" I said removing my cap, and letting my hair fall to my waist. "I am a woman." Now I must say the nonchalant looks passed from their face, I think I even heard the young looking one with the scraggly beard gasp.