Disclaimer: Don't own nothing, if I hadn't mentioned it lately except what I make up.
Chapter 12
The dinner at the round table was not a happy one for me. Arthur informed the knights they must leave tomorrow at first light. They would be gone for about a week, and I would not be allowed to join them. I did not understand why I could not go. Had I not traveled over the entire Roman Empire to get here? What could there be on the northern boarder of their territory that I could not handle. A whole week without them. I guess it is back to babysitting for me.
"Taryn, you must not be upset with Arthur for not allowing you to go, for if he would allow it, I would forbid it" my father said entering my brooding thoughts.
"I don't know why, I can handle myself." I pouted as we walked back to our quarters.
"Taryn, we are going because there is trouble with attacking Woads. If they are crossing our boarders and attacking villages, they will no doubt attack us. You are not yet ready for it, and would be a distraction. Your time will come if you so choose." He said trying to make me understand the situation.
"What will I do all week without you?" I implored.
"I am sure you will think of something." He chuckled.
"Goodnight Tristan, I will see you off, please wake me when you wake." I asked.
"I promise." He said, as I started to enter my room.
"What no hug tonight." He said before I could shut the door on him.
I turned around to his open arms and hugged him tightly. "I am sorry Tristan, it seems as if I have only just found you, I hate you having to leave, but I understand it is your duty."
"Goodnight Taryn" He said with one final squeeze, leaving me to my thoughts again.
It had been another long day. Not the perfect day I had hoped for, but a good day, a week is not that long. I also have my new job to look forward to, or dread, I am not sure which one. It was not long before sleep claimed me.
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It seemed like I had just fallen asleep when I heard the knock on my door.
"Come in." I called, knowing it would be my father.
"Taryn, why don't you stay here, we will be leaving fairly quickly." Tristan said.
"No, I want to see you off. I am ready now, see I slept in my clothes." I said with a sleepy grin on my face.
He just shook his head at me; I jumped up more awake now, and followed him down to the stables. The other knights were there already getting their gear together. Galahad still looked half asleep.
"I take it you're not a morning person." I said teasingly.
"Ha ha, easy for you to say when you can climb back in bed and go back to sleep." He said grumpily.
"My, someone got out on the wrong side of the bed this morning." I said turning my attention back to my father.
"Is there anything I can do to help you?" I asked.
"No, I have a routine of checking and rechecking, my gear and supplies, you would only distract me." He said matter of factly.
"Okay maybe I should just go back to bed." I said slightly annoyed.
"Come over hear Taryn." Lancelot called out.
"I always enjoy your company. Maybe you could entertain me with a story." He said with a grin on his face, in typical brotherly fashion.
"Now I really am leaving." I said not wanting to relive any more embarrassing moments.
"No Taryn, I am only teasing, I do want your company." He said more seriously this time.
"What are you planning on doing with your time for the next week?" He asked.
"I am not sure yet, but it definitely won't be spent missing you!" I teased back.
I sat and chatted with them all as they readied themselves. Tristan was right it did not take long. I am sure they have all gone through this routine quite often. Arthur was there giving last minute instructions to Jols, who would be remaining behind. Vanora was there also to see Bors off.
"Knights are we ready?" Arthur asked.
"Aye" they all replied.
"Then let us ride." He commanded.
I turned to give my father a hug. He was not so free with his affection in front of the other knights. "Be safe." I whispered in his ear.
"I will, and you stay out of trouble. Jols and Vanora will be here if you need anything." He said in his new found fatherly voice. I always wanted to laugh when I heard it, it comes so natural.
"What about me." A voice said over my shoulder.
"Gawain" I said going into his arms freely. "Don't forget your promise." I warned as I hugged him.
"Taryn, I have no idea what you are talking about." He teased holding me back to look me in the eyes.
"You better, or I will tell Arthur about you sneaking off yesterday." I said smacking him playfully on the arm.
I was soon pulled into one pair of arms after another, until I had given all of the knights a goodbye hug. Well everyone except Arthur he and I just weren't there yet. Vanora put her arm around me as we watched them ride through the gates, and off into the unknown.
"He has left me like this more times than I can count, and has always come back to me, but every time I fear the worst." She said sadly.
I nodded my head in understanding. "They will return to us." I said confidently.
"But many of them have not." She said pointing to the area where I knew to be the cemetery where the fallen where buried.
"We cannot think like that." I said firmly. "Prepare for the worst, but hope for the best."
We walked back into town in silence. "God watch over them." I prayed silently to myself.
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I did exactly what Galahad said I would do. I went back to bed, and slept late into the afternoon, what else was there to do? When I awoke I went to Vanora's house. The twins were upset; I did not come over yesterday, so I thought I would spend some time with them. I entertained them with tales of my journey, people I had encountered on my trip.
It was quite a task to put a meal on the table for ten children, although Vanora managed well. She was grateful to my help. It was early in her pregnancy, but she explained that is when you feel the worst. I helped her cut up the vegetables for the stew as we talked.
"Are you ready to start your new job tonight?" She asked.
"I think so, I am not afraid of the work, it seems an easy enough job." I said with confidence.
"It is not the work that is the problem, it is the customers, and we get some rough characters from time to time." She warned.
"Yes I have seen that first hand, I must admit, I am worried about running into the man who caused this trouble in the first place." I said the earlier confidence totally lacking this time.
"Do you know what is strange Taryn? The soldier you had problems with is usually a decent guy, I am not sure what was going on that night. All you have to do tonight is show confidence, but do not look or be vulnerable. Do your job, and be firm, watch Helene she will be there tonight you can learn a lot from her." She instructed me.
"I will Vanora, I wish you could be there with me, but I know you can't work every night." I said with a sigh.
"Enough talk Taryn, you need to eat, for you will have little time tonight." She said with a grin on her face.
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I walked into the tavern around seven o'clock. There were only a few scattered villagers. So far so good. I walked to the back to try to find a familiar face. I saw the pretty blonde with the crooked nose, wiping off a counter.
"Hello," I began, "I'm Taryn"
"I know who you are; I think everyone at this stupid fort knows about Tristan's precious long lost daughter." She said with a cold smile that did not reach her eyes. "Helena" She called. "Your new recruit is here."
A friendly looking girl, with chestnut brown hair came around the corner. "Taryn, hello I am so glad to meet you, I have heard so much about you." Her smile was much more authentic.
"I am not sure who you are all talking to, but I hope it is all good." I replied. "Please tell me what I need to do."
"Well one of us serves food, someone does drinks, someone has to clear the tables, and all of us are in charge of entertainment. Since it is your first night you can pick." She said.
"What do you mean by entertainment?" I asked with a wary look on my face.
"Pretty much anything to keep the men happy, and buying drinks, is what Haman tells us." She said cheerfully.
"They are not touching me." I said firmly.
"We are not whores, Taryn if that is what you are thinking." Lena interrupted.
"Oh Taryn, that is not what I meant." Helena laughed.
"I meant entertain them by singing, reciting, dancing, or just carrying on a conversation with the lonely ones." She said.
"You can let them touch you though if you choose, and we usually do." Helen laughed.
"Well good, because no one is touching me!" I said with a little arrogance to my voice.
"Good, I hope that vow still stands when the Knights return, because I don't like to share." Lena said sharply.
I turned my head to look at her to see if she was serious, I could tell by the narrowing of her eyes she was.
"Oh come Lena, leave her alone, she is but a child, she will not be stealing any of your knights away from you." Helena laughed.
"She is not much younger than us." Lena retorted. "How old are you?" She demanded of me.
"I will be sixteen in a few weeks." I mumbled, tired of the conversation.
"See Helena, you are but 18, and I 17, she will be after them soon." She adamantly said.
"More like you're afraid they will be after her." Helena snapped back. "Forgive my sister she has no manners."
"I think I will clear the tables, and leave the entertaining, and the men to you both." I said trying to change the conversation.
"Good because I see a dirty one now." Lena said pertly, pointing at an empty table.
I went and grabbed the tray I had used the day before to clean the place, and began filling it again. I found my mind wandering to the knights, and wondering what they were doing now, if they were safe. It would be a long six days.
I kept busy most of the evening. I chatted here and there with different villagers, most were polite, and some were even interesting. This job actually wasn't that bad when you got used to it. I was feeling quite confident, until I saw the door open, and the room begin to fill with, yuck, Romans.
I watched, as they all took seats in the back corner of the room. Lena and Helena were over there quickly, as well as several other barmaids that had come later in the evening. I am sure the Romans enjoyed it when the knights were gone, for they received all the female attention. I stayed clear of the table as much as I could, but soon the table began to fill with clutter. Helena came over and pushed me in that direction.
"Come now they won't bite, and after the beating they got the other night over you, I am sure they will be on better behavior tonight." She said reassuringly.
I walked over hesitantly to the table they were crowded elbow to elbow, and there was no way I could just quietly clear the table, and none of them were offering any help.
"Um excuse me." I said to one, "If you would scoot over some I will clean this up." I said quietly.
The Roman turned to look me full in the face. "I am sorry your highness, were you saying something?" He said mockingly.
I could feel the heat on my face rising. I knew it was now or never. "I was offering to clear your table, but if you prefer to dine like pigs, I will leave you alone." I said loudly this time.
"She sure told you Felix." One of the Romans began.
"She is not going to tell me anything." He said standing up and turning to look at me. "If anything I am going to show her a thing or two, she doesn't have daddy here to protect her today." He sneered.
I knew things were turning ugly fast. I did the only thing I could think to do. I grabbed the dagger I carried in the side of my pants, and held it in front of me.
"You will not show me anything, without first seeing the blade of my knife to your throat. I don't need my father here to protect me and if you want to find out first hand, I will show you." I said with all the bravado I could muster, praying he would not take me up on the offer.
For a moment, I thought he would by the look in his eye, but thankfully the most unlikely source came to my aid. "Felix a tall man said walking toward us, you know what would happen to you if Arthur found out about this, and if she is anything like her father, you will soon be dead" said a man with a slightly swollen nose, and two fading black eyes. I recognized him as the one called Phillip, the man who had grabbed me two nights previously.
"Phillip you always spoil our fun, but you are right as usual." Felix groaned.
I took this distraction to grab a pile of dishes from the table, and run into the kitchen. I took a few slow deep breaths, my ploy had worked. Sometimes it pays to be a drama queen I thought to myself. I stood there for a few moments trying to gain my composure.
"What are you doing standing around." I heard someone yell at me. It was Haman.
"Here take this barrel of trash outside before it smells the place up." He said placing the heavy barrel in my arms. I did as I was told and carried it out into the warm night air. I set it down for a few minutes to rest my arms. It was still several feet to the dump area. I was lost in my thought as usual when I felt a hand on my shoulder. I whirled around, and pulled my dagger out in one quick motion. I was getting pretty good at this.
"Hey I mean no harm." Said the Roman with his hand held in the air. It was Phillip.
"What do you want?" I said questioningly my knife still held in front of me.
"I simply came to apologize." He said.
"You are a little late; Arthur said you were to apologize yesterday." I said sternly.
"Well I will admit I was slightly intimidated by the company you kept yesterday." He said with a smile on his face.
"Well you said your apology you can go back in." I snapped.
"No I really did not; I only said I wanted to apologize. I have not yet done it." He explained as if to a child.
"Go ahead then." I said impatiently.
"I was not myself that night. Never have I ever in my life treated, or spoken, to women,
as I did you. I had received upsetting news from Rome earlier that morning, and had spent much of the afternoon getting drunk. A thing I don't normally do."
I found myself studying him as he was talking. He did not look that old, I was guessing between 20 and 23, he was very handsome. He had closely cropped jet black hair, his eyes were surprisingly very blue, and he probably once had the classic Roman nose, it was still swollen from its encounter with Gawain's fist. He was tall and well built, and well spoken. He would have been a dream guy, if my first encounter with him would not have been so unpleasant.
"I do not remember everything I said or did to you, possibly from the drink, possibly from your friend's fist, but I know it was not polite. I am sincere Taryn, and I do want your forgiveness. I am not doing this because I am being forced to. Please Taryn forgive a stupid drunk." He said flashing his baby blues at me.
I just looked at him for a moment. "I will forgive you on one condition." I said.
"Okay, what is that."
"Finish carrying this God forsaken heavy trash to that dump, and keep your friends away from me."
"It's a deal." He said sticking out his hand, which I accepted. I turned and went back into the tavern leaving him to my trash. I was slightly confused over what had just transpired, but it wouldn't hurt to have one Roman in my corner. He could be of use for something.
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I was unable to sleep the next morning so I thought I would get up early and go for a ride. I went to the stables to see my four legged friend. "Good morning boy." I said patting him on the head. "You ready for a little exercise." I asked as I began to saddle him up. I was leading him out of the stall when I was greeted by Jols.
"Hello Taryn, up early this morning I see." He said cheerfully.
"Yes I thought I should give my lazy horse a little exercise." I said.
"Will you be riding in the arena?" He asked.
"No why would I want to ride in a stuffy old arena, when the beautiful outdoors are calling my name." I replied.
"Taryn, I am afraid I can't allow that. Tristan gave specific instructions you are not allowed to leave the fort boundaries." Jols explained.
"I don't care what he said, I will not go far, and I can take care of myself." I said not bothering to hide my annoyed look.
"Taryn, you cannot go out by yourself, there is no discussing the matter." He said more firmly this time.
"She will not be alone if I go with her." I heard a voice from the stables call. Phillip stepped out from one of the stalls leading a saddled horse. "I believe I would be a suitable chaperone." He said looking at me with a smile.
He was not my first pick for company, but it would sure beat riding in a walled in practice arena.
"Yes, Phillip I forgot about your offering to be my guide before my father left." I lied, with my fingers crossed behind my back. "Jols he said he wouldn't have a problem with me riding as long as I have an escort. Let's go." I said to Phillip not waiting for Jols to respond.
We walked together out of the stables and toward the edge of the town.
"You are a good liar." He laughed when we were out of earshot.
"And you are a good eavesdropper." I smiled back, thinking I had just made a very unusual friend.
AN: Thanks for the reviews, and thanks for reading. I am trying to make it interesting. I hope I can get chapter 13 up soon. I plan on taking the story in a few different directions, not sure yet though. Please review, as they can make a girls day, lol!