Chapter 6

"Let's go to my room to talk" he was saying "There is less likely a chance we will be interrupted there."

"That's fine with me." I said back to him. He opened the door to his room. It was quite a cozy room, there was a bed in the back right corner of the room, to my right was a fire place, with two large stuffed chairs, and a large bear skin rug in front of it.

"Nice, rug" I casually said.

"Not a nice bear," He replied back.

"You actually killed him yourself?" I asked, for this would have been a huge bear, larger than anything I had ever seen.

"Yes, it wasn't easy, but enough about there bear, tell me how you came to be here." Tristan said.

I take it he wasn't much for small talk; I knew he wanted to get straight to the topic.

"Well you know my mother was Sarah that makes my story a little easier." I began nervously.

"Taryn", he interrupted, "I probably can guess everything you are about to tell me, so don't stress over this, I just want to know about your life, the last 15 years, and what made you make this journey?" He finished calmly.

I took a deep breath, and looked him in the eye, I saw understanding there, he knew this was difficult for me, and he was trying to be as sympathetic as possible.

"Well, I did not learn that you were my father, until I was thirteen summers old. It was after the death of the man I then thought, was my one and only father. Anias…"

"Yes, I knew him," Tristan nodded "He was a good man."

"Yes, he was" even now my eyes filled with tears as I thought about him and his death.

"I was shocked the day my mother told me. She told me Anias loved me more than a man could possible love a daughter, but he was not my birth father. She said my father was in service to Rome, but did not know about me. She said he was a brave and honorable man, but she did what she had to for us, and for our survival." I paused for a minute, and looked, up at him.

"Continue" He said.

"After that day, I thought about you most of the time, what you were like, if you would have wanted a daughter, if you were even alive. My mother had told me your name, Tristan, but she had not told me of your family. When I realized this, I demanded to know who your family was. Much to my surprise, I learned my actual biological grandparents, were my close friends." I stopped again, but this time after being interrupted by him.

"My mother and father," he said quickly "how are they?" I could see the panic in his eye, fear of hearing some kind of heart breaking news about his loved ones. Thankfully the news was not all bad.

"They live." I said. I think he had been holding his breath; it all came out in a quick rush.

"Your father, Mikhail is well; age has brought him only more wisdom, and strength. I know he would have made this journey with me if able, he told me so many times." I said.

"And my mother…." He asked.

"She is well in mind and spirit, but her body is broken, she had a fall from a young colt she was breaking about five summers ago, that has left her without use of her legs, but mind you she is still one of the happiest, most determined women, I have ever met." I told him.

"Breaking horses at 50?" He shook his head. "What was she thinking?"

"It was not her fault!" I quickly defended her, "Up until that day, she could ride as well as any man in the village. The man that sold her the horse, had abused him, the man would shoot arrows at him for target practice. Your mother worked for months with the horse, she had taken him to a field she thought was empty to ride him in, when she came upon some boys, the boys were practicing there target practice, and did not see the rider, they were shooting arrows, in her direction. The horse spooked, and could not be calmed, he reared, he did not unseat your mother mind you, but the saddle girth broke under the strain, throwing her, the saddle, and all." I finished.

"Yes, you are right she was a great horseman." He said.

"The best." I agreed. "I went to them the day I knew they were my grandparents. They said they always knew in there hearts I was yours. I had always wondered why they had cared so much for me, your father taught me many things, and he took me hunting with him often." I stopped in case he had more questions of his family.

"I am glad they were there for you, how is my sister?" He asked.

A big smile came to my face. "Well other than being exhausted most of the time, from taking care of her 7 children, she is great." I said.

"Seven children!" He shook his head, "Who is her husband?"

"Stephan." I stated.

"I could have guessed. You will have to tell me of all my nieces and nephews another time. Let's get back to you." He said.

It made my heart soar to be able to give him this information. I know after 14 years it was a miracle to hear information from home. I could tell he was happy, by the pleased expression on his face, which was quite different from the scowl, I had been accustomed to.

"About six months after my mother told me of you, she became very ill, and when it looked like she would not make it, she gave me this to give to you." I reached into my dress and pulled out the slightly worn looking sealed envelope, I had so carefully guarded, on my journey here, and handed it to him.

"What is this?" He asked.

I shrugged, my shoulders, for I had never opened it. "Read it." I said simply.

He slowly opened the letter.

Dear Tristan,

If you are reading this, I did not live to tell you this in person, and I am sorry. I lied to you. You were right all those years ago, Taryn was, and is your daughter. Tristan, you must understand I had to do it. I loved you, I loved you so much I ached for you for years, but I had to do it for our daughter's sake. We both knew the Romans were coming for you, it was so stupid for me to get involved with you, but the thought of you leaving, and never getting to be with you was worse. Anias had asked me to marry him, I had told him no, until I found out I was pregnant.

Maybe I am a coward, but the thought of raising our daughter alone for the next 15 years was more than I could handle, so I wed him that day. I know I hurt you Tristan but I did what I had to do. We would have been left living on the charity of the others in the village, while waiting for you to come home, if you came home. We both know Tristan many of our men never return. Anias was a good father to Taryn; he gave her what you never would have been able to. He taught her all she knows, and loved her, when you could not be there. Taryn is a beautiful young woman, I have taught her to be kind, and good, but determined and strong. She needs you now Tristan to finish up what I can not. Tristan, I beg of you to forgive me for lying to you, and hurting you. I do not regret my decision though. I did what I thought was best. Please Tristan forgive Me, but love our daughter. Show her all the love, I know that is in you, and don't take your feelings for me out on her. My one regret is that I will never get to look on your face one last time. I have always loved you.

Sarah

"Is she gone?" He asked. I nodded my eyes filling with tears. He let the letter fall from his fingers onto the ground in front of me. I picked it up, and looked at him. He nodded back at me. I quickly read the letter. By the end the tears were falling from my eyes. Tears for the pain both my mother and father had gone through, tears for myself for not being able to have known my father until I was 15 years old, and for the fact they would never have a chance to talk and sort this out. All of this, because of the Romans. I hated the Romans, they invaded lands, killed innocent people, those they did not kill they forced to serve them, all in the name of God, a God who was a good, and righteous god, but they had changed his word to meet there own greedy needs. I looked up at my father, and it seemed as if there were tears in his eyes also.

I then did something that I think shocked him, but I did not care. I threw myself into his arm, sobbing. My arms found there way around his neck, and I sobbed loudly. Not the pretty crying ladies do when they want there way. It was the type of crying where your nose starts running uncontrollably your face gets beet red, and puffy. I am not sure he knew what to do, but he figured it out. He patted my back, and then began to make the comforting noises a man makes when trying to calm a hysteric woman,

"Shh", He would murmur, and "everything will be alright

Finally, which I know must have seemed like an eternity to him, I pulled back. I looked embarrassedly at his shirt, which was covered in tears and snot.

"Its okay" he smiled, as he looked at his shirt.

"I guess this is the equivalent of one of Bors babies retching all over him." He said.

I smiled back at him. "Yes we have a lot of ground to make up." I said.

"I think you have had a long day, we can finish our talk tomorrow." He said.

"Yes, I actually believe this has been the longest day of my life." I said while rubbing my shoulder.

"Taryn" he began, "I am really sorry about hurting you earlier." He said.

I smiled again, "Its okay, you were only doing your job." I was thinking about how glad, I was that I came to realize this before our talk.

"Well, I guess I am off to bed, goodnight, Trist, um Father, or Dad." I shrugged my shoulders. "I don't know what I should call you." I finished hesitantly.

"How about, we leave it at Tristan for now." He stated

"I think that will work, goodnight Tristan." I said

"Goodnight Taryn, sleep well." He replied.

As I shut the door, I could not help but think how my life had changed since early this morning. I thought my decision to make this journey, had been the most foolish one of my young life. Those feelings were gone now, totally replaced by a feeling I could not even try to describe, but it was good. I looked up to see Galahad walking toward me, he had his arm around a young woman, but when he saw me, and my swollen red face, he quickly pushed her away.

"Taryn, are you okay?" He asked. I could see the concern in his face.

"Galahad, I am better than I have ever been." I firmly stated.

"Well, if you say so, but you don't look it." He finished awkwardly.

"Goodnight Galahad, enjoy your evening." I looked over to his forgotten companion; I nodded to her, and quickly shut my door.

I found my bed immediately, it wasn't the softest thing I had ever slept in, but I believe I was asleep before my head hit the pillow.

Thanks again to everyone who has reviewed, it helps, and is encouraging to know someone is actually reading this. I am sorry if I did not make it clear, but this is happening before the movie, about a year prior. I will try to make my chapters longer, but it is hard, I work a full time job, and have three young children!

Chapter 7 is almost done, but again I am to tired to finish it!

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