Chapter 9
As I walked back to my room, I was having a mental war. I really did not want to go and spend my evening in a tavern full of drunken Romans, but Vanora was right, I was spending too much time with the children. Tristan did not seem to mind that I did not spend my evenings with him. He enjoys his own space, and I know before I came he spent much of his time alone, so it does not bother me not spending every waking moment with my father. Alas my life was starting to get a little boring; I could use a little more excitement.
When I made it to my room, I laid Vanora's dress out on my bed. It was a nice dress; I could see why it was one of her favorites. It was a dark maroon, with a plunging neckline, and a tapered waist. I had never owned such a pretty dress. Where I was from, there was never a need for such an impractical dress. "Well here goes nothing," I said out loud as I slipped the dress over my head. I looked down at myself, trying to visualize what I looked like, it seemed good to me. Next was my hair, I started to pull it back into its usual ponytail, and then decided to do something a little more creative. My dark brown hair was quite a challenge; it hung mid way down my back, and had the natural curls that all the girls envied. I would gladly give it to them; it was such a pain to brush. Tonight I would take the time though. I carefully brushed out all the tangles. I pulled just enough of it up in a tie to keep it out of my eyes, and let the rest hang down in soft ringlets. Oh if only I had a mirror. I remembered seeing one I just could not remember where. I knew it was in one of the knight's rooms, they were all in the courtyard I had seen them coming back from Vanora's, so I decided to look for one.
I went into Galahad's room first, surely if any of the knights had one it would be him. I quickly scanned the room no mirror. I turned around to leave his room, and in my haste did not see there was someone standing in the door watching me. I ran right into a solid chest, I couldn't help it I let out a scream.
"Taryn for God's sake be quiet, it is just me." I looked up to see none other than Lancelot.
"Well you shouldn't be sneaking up on people!" I snapped.
"Sneaking?" He said with eyebrows raised. "It seems to me there is only one person here sneaking around, please tell me what were you doing in Galahad's room." He asked.
I knew I was caught I really did not want to admit to him what I was doing, but what was I suppose to do; I didn't want him to think I was a thief, or some kind of freak stalker.
"Fine, if you must know, I was looking for a mirror." I blurted out.
"Ah, I see" he grinned. "You want to see what you look like in that new dress of your." He said eyeing my dress. "Well, I just happen to have a mirror in my room. Come I'll show you."
"That was the second place I was going to look." I muttered under my breath.
"Its really okay" I protested as he led me to his room. "I don't need to see your mirror."
"Yes you definitely do, you need to see what I see." He said.
"Never mind" I said. "I am just going to go change." I replied.
"Ah here we are." He said ignoring my protest. He had a large fairly ornate mirror on the wall at the foot of his bed.
"Well aren't we a little vain.' I said commenting on the large mirror.
"It came with the room." He insisted, "It used to belong to some pompous Roman commander. So what do you think?" He asked.
I looked at my reflection in the mirror. It had been months since I had seen my reflection; I did not have time for that on my journey. It did not even look like me, or what I remembered me looking like. The girl was definitely gone, replaced by a young woman. The dress looked okay, it was a little big in the chest, and waist, but still it was somewhat becoming.
"You're beautiful." I heard a voice behind me say.
"What?" I asked. I had never before been called beautiful. "I may look different than normal, but definitely not beautiful." I said firmly.
"No you are beautiful." He said again. "And I am a pretty good judge when it comes to woman. Now where are you headed, over to Bors', to play with the kiddies?" He teased.
"Well no, Vanora insisted I go to the tavern with the grownups tonight." I replied.
"Well I just happen to be headed that way." He said giving me a dazzling smile. "Why don't you join me."
"Let's go" I said taking his offered arm.
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It was not yet late in the evening but already the tavern was starting to fill. There were several groups of Romans seated. Some were having dinner, some playing games. Others were trying to get the attention of the barmaids, who in turn were trying to gain the attention of the Sarmatian Knights, who were all seated together at a table.
"This is why I don't like taverns." I said out loud.
"What" Lancelot asked, not really paying attention to me, he was scanning the room also.
"Nothing, just thinking out loud." I said.
Tristan was sitting at the far end of the table, Galahad was next to him. I walked over, and squeezed myself between the two of them.
"Just make yourself at home will ya." Galahad teased. I elbowed him in the ribs.
"So nice of you, to save me a seat." I said back.
"Hey I thought you were my date." Lancelot yelled from across the table.
"I was your date, you walked me to the tavern, and now our date is over." I said back to him.
"Oh Galahad, I thought you might want to know…." Lancelot began with a teasing smile on his face.
I could feel my face heating up, the little brat was about to tell him I had been snooping in his room.
"Want to know what?" Galahad asked.
"That you are sitting by the most beautiful woman in the room." He finished with a sweet smile on his face.
I just glared at him.
"Well we already knew that Lancelot, and by the way Taryn you do clean up nicely but I must admit I prefer Galahad's pants on you." Gawain said from his end of the table.
"I didn't know your hair was that long Taryn. It is as pretty as Gawains." An already drunk Galahad was saying.
"You think my hair is pretty?" Gawain almost choked on his food. Lancelot could not stop laughing at this, as was everyone else.
"Would you all please just shut up, and let a man eat his dinner in peace." Tristan finally interrupted our little banter.
"I agree." I said relieved to no longer be the topic of conversation. "How do you go about getting food in this place anyway?" I asked.
"Easy" Gawain said. "Lena, could you come here please." He called to a pretty looking bar maid, with long blonde hair, and full red lips. She would have been drop dead gorgeous had it not been for her very crooked nose.
"Lena" He said pulling the girl into his lap. "Would you be a doll, and go get Taryn here a plate of food." The girl was practically drooling, until he pointed over to me. She gave me a dirty look, and said "Sure Gawain anything for you."
"So" I began as she was walking away. "For me to get a meal here, I have to have a Knight seduce a barmaid?" I said utterly disgusted.
"I don't know" Bors joined in, "Some of them may not mind a little seduction from you, your looking good tonight Taryn." He ended his statement with a wolf howl.
Vanora had taken this moment to join us. "Vanora, can I leave now, please." I begged.
"You just got here, Taryn, relax have some fun." Vanora replied. "And the rest of you mind your manners."
Lena had come back by then with my steaming plate of food, which she plopped down unceremoniously in front of me.
"Thank you." I said.
"Hmm" She just snorted.
I ignored her and began to eat. The knights were soon in deep conversation about there next mission, which they believed Arthur was planning as they spoke. I got the feeling they were anxious to leave. I think life at the wall got to mundane, to boring for them at times.
"How is your shoulder Taryn?" Dagonet asked.
"It is feels great." I said rotating it a few times.
"I would say you could start using it more, as long as you don't push it." He said eyeing Tristan.
"Good, then we can start your training again in the morning." Tristan said, purposely ignoring Dagonet's look.
Our little group had started to break up by then. Lancelot had moved over to a gambling table, and was holding a quite happy looking bar maid on his lap. Galahad and Gawain were in the corner throwing daggers at a target, with again more barmaids hanging on there every move. This left me, Dagonet, Bors, and Tristan.
"Well boys what do we do now for fun?" I asked.
"Drink" said Bors raising his mug and downing it.
"What about you Dagonet, how do you spend your evenings?" I asked.
"By keeping them out of trouble." He said nodding to the younger knights. "And drinking." He added with a small grin.
"Tristan, what about you? Surely you don't just sit here by yourself and drink." I asked.
"We're not always by ourselves dearie, you're just frightening the company away." Bors said. "We can't even get a maid to fill our cups with you sitting here!"
I looked around, the only barmaids in sight were already in some men's lap, and showed no signs of getting up to refill Bors drink. Vanora was busy up at the counter, trying to take up the slack, for her rather lazy employees.
"Give me the cup" I said, "I will get you your drink Sir Bors." I said quite gallantly.
I passed Galahad and Gawain as I was walking up to the counter, they were quite involved with there game and woman, and took no notice of me. Lancelot was also very occupied.
"Vanora, could you please refill your lover's glass?" I asked.
"Taryn, you better be careful or they will all have you waiting on them hand and foot." She teased.
"Trust me this wont be a regular occurrence." I said as I turned to walk back. As I was walking past a table of Roman soldiers, I felt a hand on my arm. I looked down to see a very handsome, but very drunk soldier.
"You must be the new wench." He was saying.
"No, your mistaken." I said trying to pull my arm away. When suddenly he grabbed me by both arms and pulled me onto his lap. I felt his warm breath on my neck, the smell of alcohol was so thick it was nauseating. He began running his hands across my chest, my arms were pinned so I couldn't move.
"You and I are going to have a good time tonight." He was saying, I felt his wet lips on my neck. I was temporarily in a state of shock, I had never been treated this way by a man before. I started to struggle to free myself. When I saw a fist fly by my head and land directly in my captor's nose.
I then saw the owner of the fist, it was Gawain's. He had probably been the closest to me and saw my struggle. He pulled me quickly out of the man's lap and over to his side. I looked up at him gratefully.
"What was that for?" The Roman asked wiping the blood from his nose. "Since when are the barmaids only Sarmatian property."
"When they are the daughter of a Sarmatian." Gawain said. "You better watch who you are trying to seduce pretty boy."
We had drawn quite a crowd, the rest of the Knights had joined us, as had most of the Roman soldiers.
"She is much too good looking to be from any of your lowly breed." A foolish drunk yelled out.
"She is my daughter, and you Phillip owe her an apology." Tristan said to the man who had started all of this.
The Roman, Phillip was his name stood up and looked Tristan in the eye. "Just because she is your bastard daughter Tristan, do not expect us to treat her like royalty." He slurred.
Oh stupid, stupid man I thought to myself. I started to back away from the man, afraid of what might happen, but Tristan grabbed my arm and pulled me back.
"Apologize" He quietly demanded. A less drunk, but equally stupid Roman, choose that moment to join the little debate. "What if he doesn't, what are you going to do about it Sarmatian dog." He snarled.
Anyone could see the hate between these groups of men; it was as strong, as the wall surrounding our little fort. I was sure now there would be a fight. Only there were double the Romans, as there were Sarmatians.
"Lancelot." Tristan said over his shoulder. "Get her out of here." He said pushing me gently toward him.
Lancelot grabbed my arm and quickly steered me out of the room. As soon as the doors shut, I could hear the room erupt. I could make out the sound of chair smashing, glass breaking, punches connecting, and groans of pain, hopefully Roman groans.
"He is not going to kill him?" I asked hysteria building.
"No" laughed Lancelot. "Tristan is to smart to kill a Roman, at least while other Roman's are watching." He said. "The man will wish he was dead though."
"Do you fight with them often?" I asked.
"No rarely, Arthur is does not like us beating on his fellow country men. But don't worry when we do brawl, we always win." He said reassuringly.
"Now what would you like to do my lady?" He asked.
"Some fresh air would be wonderful." I said, it had gotten so hot in the tavern, I felt I could not breathe.
"Good I know just the place." He said, leading me up the stairs and to the top of the wall.
I had never walked on the wall before. The view was breathtaking; it seemed you could see for miles. It was the middle of the night, but it seemed as if every star in the sky had come out to greet us. The moon was round and full, and the light hit the wall making almost a magical feeling.
"No wonder the Roman's are so stupid tonight." Lancelot interrupted my thoughts. "It is a full moon.
"Yes it is." I said almost mesmerized by the light of it.
"What are you thinking?" Lancelot asked.
"Just about how peaceful it is up here." I lied. I was actually thinking how romantic it was, and how, well how handsome he was.
"I like to come up here and think, I agree it is peaceful at night." He said.
"What do you think about?" I asked.
"Everything, life, home, women, and war" He said.
"That surprises me Lancelot; I would not picture you as a thinker." I said innocently.
"I did not say I did it often." He laughed. "I leave that to Arthur."
We came to a little bench that was set against the back side of the wall.
"Care to sit for awhile." He offered.
"That would be fine." I said while sitting. He stood there looking out into the woods. "Sit by me." I said pulling him down beside me. It was a small bench, but we both fit, quite snuggly, I might add. We just sat in silence for awhile and starred at the stars.
"Tell me a story Lancelot." I asked.
"I don't know and stories." He said back.
"You must know a story; our people are known for their story telling." I said with disbelief.
"Okay here is my story. Once upon a time there was a young boy. This young boy was forced from his homeland by barbarians. He was then shipped to a foreign land and forced to fight for the barbarians. He was made to kill innocent people, only fighting for their homeland, until the day, some 15 years later when he would be released. There you go Taryn, I do know one story." He said.
"That is not a story, Lancelot only a sad reality." I said quietly.
"I am sorry Taryn, I want to cheer you up, but my life is not a life of fairy tales, it is only reality, and that is all I know." He apologized. "Why don't you tell me a story?"
"Okay, Lancelot, I will, and trust me mine will be much better than yours." I teased.
"Once upon a time in a kingdom far far a way lived a beautiful princess. But she had an enchantment upon her of a fearful sort. She lived in the castle guarded by a terrible fire breathing dragon. Many brave knights tried to rescue her, but none prevailed." I took that moment to pause and look up at my brave knight, who much to my dismay, had fallen asleep, and was snoring softly.
Well so much for my entertaining story, I thought to myself. Oh well might as well make the best of it. I carefully without waking him cuddled up closely to his side. I do believe he is even more handsome in his sleep. He looked almost angelic. I sat there for many minutes listening to his rhythmic breathing. When it was obvious he was not going to wake him up, I decided I had better wake him up, I did not want Tristan to worry about wandering where I was.
I not so gently stuck my elbow into his ribs. "And that is the end." I yelled loudly in his ear.
"Hm what the" He jumped up he was wide awake now. "Oh Taryn, I'm sorry I nodded off for a minute. That was a positively thrilling story." He said.
"Yes, it is one of my favorites." I agreed. "My favorite part is when the fire breathing dragon, eats the brave knight when he falls asleep during the first 20 seconds of the princess' story."
"Yes I liked that" He started to agree, than he realized what I was saying. "Okay, I admit it I am caught. I really am sorry Taryn; I just had a long day." He finished lamely.
"It's okay Lance. I think we should go back now." I said.
"Yes they are probably looking for you; do you want to go back to the tavern?"
"I don't think so, why don't you just take me back to my room."
"Your wish is my command lady." He said holding out his arm.
I did not take his arm, but instead grabbed his hand, and that is how we walked back, hand in hand, just enjoying the very unusual peace and quiet.
Lancelot walked me up toward our quarters; none of the others were back yet. I opened my door, and walked in, he followed me looking around the room, making sure it was free of intruders.
"Well my lady, I leave you to your bed." He said stepping into the door way.
I daringly took a step closer to him. "Lancelot, I just wanted to thank you for keeping me company tonight." I said my blue eyes peering up into his dark ones.
"It was my pleasure Taryn." He said softly lowering his head. I raised mine, and quickly closed my eyes in hope of what I thought was coming, but instead, I felt his lips land on the top of my head. I opened my eyes, and looked up at him, the disappointment evident.
'Oh Taryn, I am sorry, I just can't help it, you remind me so of my little sister." He apologized stepping out of the room.
I quickly recovered and yelled back at him. "Your right Lancelot, it would be weird, I can't help but think of my father when I see you." I started to slam my door, when I noticed another person had entered the hall, and was being quite amused by our little exchange.
"Shut up Gawain." I yelled and slammed the door.
Please Review, it gets me motivated. If the Taryn, Lancelot scene seemed wierd, sorry. No there will not be a Lancelot Taryn pairing, unless I change my mind but I wanted to show, how if in the right situation, a little moonlight, any female on earth is going to be attracted to Lancelot. Taryn is beginning to look for love. I don't think it will be Lancey though!