Out of Darkness Comes the Light - Chapter 15
Disclaimer: I don't own anything or anyone you may recognize. I don't even own the title. If you think I have ripped you off, sorry. This came purely from my own imagination, such as it is. I don't even claim that my story is any good...
Cardeia - Yes, touch is a wonderful thing. She does use touch. And I'm not sure if you see it, but this is what Tristan craves most in her. She's the only one to touch him like that. I was wondering if you'd catch the mint. It was one of those random things you put in to see if anyone catches it.
A/N: And here we go again with the conflict.
Teagan watched as Dagonet looked Tristan over. He changed the bandages on his side and Teagan saw that it had already healed somewhat. It had been three days and Tristan was still asleep.
"Dag? If his injuries aren't so bad, why is he still sleeping?"
"He needs the rest." He looked at her, willing her to understand what was going on. "He's exhausted. He hasn't been sleeping."
Teagan just looked at him. Not comprehending. The Tristan she knew, didn't need a lot of sleep.
Dagonet gave up. "He needs the rest. Ever since you came back, he's been pushing himself harder. Not taking care of himself. So, we are making him sleep."
"Of course, this is my fault." Teagan felt tears well up. She had hurt this man so unbelievably that he needed to be forced to sleep.
Dagonet took her by the shoulders. He shook his head. He had to bend low to reach her eyes.
"No. It is not. But let's face it. You two are stepping around each other. Almost hoping this will go away." He looked at her intently. They were both his friends and he was at his limit. "You love him."
Teagan started to protest, Dagonet wouldn't let her.
"No. You do. You are trying to convince yourself that you don't. You don't want to lose him in battle. Again. That is understandable. He loves you, but he doesn't know what to do."
"Dag, I..."
Dagonet shook his head. "Let me finish. Last time, you took the first steps. You drew him out. This withdrawing that you are doing is killing him. Damn, it's killing us. You are a sister to us. And he is our brother."
He drew Teagan into a big hug. "Let him back in"
Teagan pulled away from Dagonet. Unshed tears were in her eyes. "I can't Dag. I just can't." She wanted to, but it was proving harder than she thought.
Dagonet let out a frustrated sigh. "Then come with me. I need to show you something."
As Dagonet and Teagan left, neither saw that Tristan had been watching them the entire time. He knew in his heart that his future was about to be decided.
0o0o0o
Teagan followed Dagonet into the infirmary.
"Let me show you something." He took her hand, leading her into a small curtained area.
Teagan stopped dead at the sight before her. She couldn't believe what she was seeing. It was the girl from the tavern.
"Who is that?"
"Your replacement. Her name is Arianna."
Teagan couldn't say a thing. The sight before her was too awful.
The woman on the cot could be her twin. She was small, like herself. Red hair that curled about her face. Her eyes were set wider apart than hers and she had no tattoo. But what was done to her was what Teagan was having a hard time wrapping her brain around. She had been roughed up, that was for sure.
There were bruises on her arms. Clear hand prints. And her neck. It held the bite mark.
Teagan looked at Dagonet. "Why did he do this?"
"He can't control himself. It's happened before, many years ago. This happened right before the attack. But, we have no proof. She isn't saying."
"That was when I left." She whispered. Guilt washing over her in waves, making her nauseous.
Dagonet nodded. He placed his hands on her shoulders. "This is part of the reason he needs you so much."
Teagan shook her head. "I still don't understand."
"It's hard to explain. He has a blood lust. Everyone here knows this. You know this." Teagan nodded. She understood that. "But, since you came here his thought process has changed. He needs you to keep that balance."
"Then I need to leave. Let him get back to himself." She said it before she thought. Again with the leaving.
"You can't. It will just make it worse. You seem to be the only one to keep him calm."
Teagan's anger flared. She turned on Dagonet. "I will not stay here just to keep every woman here safe."
A moan that came from Arianna drew Teagan's eyes to her. She stood there for long moments before she spoke again.
"Is he that angry with me?"
Dagonet could only nod.
The woman lying on the bed opened her eyes. Teagan could only stare at how much Arianna did, indeed, look like her. Down to the blue eyes.
Arianna sucked in a breath. "You're her." The woman's voice was hoarse. "You're real. I thought it was just make believe."
Teagan knelt next to her. "How long has this been going on? Is this the first time?"
Arianna didn't say anything, only averting her eyes.
But Dagonet spoke up. "She has been with him for a while. He pays her very well." He glared at Arianna, almost willing her to speak out. She knew what she was getting into when she accepted Tristan's money. She had been advised to stay away from the scout, that he was potentially dangerous. The woman did not listen. He looked at Teagan to judge her response.
Teagan only let out the smallest of flinches, emotion. Of course Tristan would go to other women. He would get what she would not provide. It hurt her to see it, she had accepted it. "But this is so bad." She whispered.
Arianna only closed her eyes. If the Lady Teagan only knew what she had to deal with at other forts, this was no big thing. She was, after all, a prostitute. She got paid to take abuse. But, Tristan had not done this to her.
And Tristan had paid her well to stay silent. To let him take the blame. She did not say this to anyone, but she would take this again. Willingly.
Teagan stood, still looking at the battered body of the woman in front of her. "Does anyone else know?"
"Arthur and myself. I think Lancelot suspects." He looked again to Arianna. "Unless she has spoken to others."
Arianna shook her head. "I told no one." And she wouldn't.
But Teagan was concerned. "What does Arthur say about all this?"
Dagonet shrugged his huge shoulders. "There's not much he can do. Or say. Arianna doesn't want to press charges. She insists that Tristan did nothing. We were hoping that you could help him."
"Dag, do you realize what you are asking me to do?"
"I wouldn't have brought you here if there was another way." He raked his hand over his head. "If he keeps this course, he is going to get himself killed. You're going to force his hand, either way."
Teagan squared her shoulders and moved to Dagonet. She took a deep breath. "Will you be here to patch me up?" She had to hope it wouldn't come to that.
The big man nodded, bringing Teagan into his arms. "Of course. I will be nearby all night. You just yell my name."
Arianna sat up on the cot. "What are you going to do?"
Teagan pulled away from Dagonet and looked at the woman before her. The woman who looked so much like her. The woman who took her place for a time.
"Save Tristan's life."
0o0o0o
The two came back to the room that Tristan was recovering in. It was not far from the infirmary. And right now, Teagan was glad that it had no windows. She turned to face her friend.
"Lock the door behind me. Don't let him out." She gave Dag a sad smile. "And do what you must to keep Lancelot away." Lancelot would be so hurt to know this. She did not want him to know what she was about to do.
The big man nodded. It was such a big thing to ask of her. Maybe, if all went well, she would come out of this unscathed.
Without another word, Teagan slipped into the room to face Tristan. Both heard the barricade come across the door.
0o0o0o
Outside it began to thunder. Soon after, it began to rain. Hard. Outside a storm was raging. Inside, lightning was about to strike.
Cardeia - Can you see that they all see this situation differently?