Out of Darkness Comes the Light - Chapter 25
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...
A/N: I just re-read chapter 24 on the FFN site. I really like that chapter a lot. And I'm happy that you did too. It's amazing that I started that chapter at 4am and worked on it for an hour. Then finished it right before posting it. It didn't take long at all, and I didn't change much. But it seemed to fit with the rest of the story.
Now: I just hope that this next set of chapters also fits. It's going to be a bit of a departure for Tristan. I hope you all like it. There will be a lot of them together.
Lady11Occult - You just may be right. And they're getting there!
KnightMaiden - I guess they are. And here you go. I hope you like it.
Melosine - I'm happy that you are enjoying it. Here's the next bit. At least this time it wasn't raining in WV. Very pretty with the mountains and all. But I still get lost everytime i drive on their darn roads. I don't think they believe in pavement.
op - I'm glad you think so. I hope you like this next bit.
MistakenLove - I'm happy that you still like it.
Sorceress Misha - Our fake WOden has something up his lseeve. He's starting to rear his ugly head again. And our two are working on it.
tracy137 - Thank You! I'm so happy you think so. I'm happy you like the ways I give Tristan. But, this next is a departure from what we know about him. I only hope I still keep him in character. Or I keep him in the way I have written him. We'll see. Can you picture him on a slide?
Cardeia - The quiet kind of affection. I think that's the route that I'm going with them. Can't picture him going all out like Lancelot. Or even some of the others. It'll be there, just not heavy PDAs.
And I'm not so sure he's ever going to get past his new found 'worry.' Like you have said, he's pushed it so far away.
And I wish I could describe events the way you do. Like the horseback riding. Alas, I just don't have that talent. I rely on other's imaginations. I haven't been on a horse since I was 13. Gosh, I'm old.
Oh - my blind date backed off. I've met him before, so I guess it wasn't 'blind.' It was over Easter and he was SOOOOO drunk. I said I would meet him again, only if he was sober. I was told that he was to embarrassed to show up. Oh well - I'm destined to be alone forever I think. My daughter thinks that I should do the online thing. "You already live on that thing, Mom." Kids.
Tristan woke to three faces looking down on him. These stupid grins plastered to each and every face. They all looked like they were so proud of themselves.
Looking at each and every one of them, he knew he'd not get a moment of peace. He sighed, it was to be expected.
He tried to sit up without disturbing Teagan overmuch while glaring at his friends.
Gawain stood there, just smiling his damned knowing smile. It was irritating, the way he always did that.
Cassandra and Lancelot were standing next to each other. Cass with her hands on her hips and Lancelot looking like he was about to open his mouth.
"Say one word and I will hit each of you with Gawain's axe."
Gawain turned around, his shoulder shaking with quiet laughter. He looked back at Tristan and sauntered off to Arthur's tent. It was about time to get the caravan moving.
He had heard Lancelot laughing over the sight and had just been nosy.
Teagan was pressed so close to him that he probably couldn't put a finger between them. Tristan had his cheek resting on the top of her head, his hand buried somewhere in her hair. Even in his sleep, the man looked like he was wound a bit to tight.
In all, it was quite an intimate picture. But as it was Tristan...well, not much that man did was intimate.
It may have been an amusing sight to see him so attached to Teagan in his sleep, but he was happy that they were getting somewhere.
His dearest friends deserved what happiness they could find.
Teagan stirred, pulling one of Tristan's braids from her face where the leather cord had stuck to her forehead. Gawain watched as she absently rubbed at the dented spot in her forehead.
She heard Lancelot's snort of laughter, forcing her eyes open.
"Who are you going to hit with Gawain's axe?" She asked, her voice heavy with sleep.
Tristan grunted. "Them."
One of the 'them' in question was walking away, his arm raised in a hello. The other two were still standing there. Staring.
Lancelot was looking like he was itching to say something smart, but the look from Tristan was keeping him silent.
Teagan couldn't help but roll her eyes. They really did act like a bunch of children sometimes. Poor Tristan wouldn't hear the end of it for some time.
She couldn't understand what the big deal was. It was bound to happen, her sleeping with the man.
"Lancelot, if you are done staring, help me up."
"Oh, love, staring is only the beginning. I've only just begun." He couldn't keep the amusement from his voice.
Cassandra smacked Lancelot in the stomach with the back of her hand. The sound hiding her own laugher. If they could only see what this looked like.
Teagan raised her arm for Lancelot to help her, but Tristan held her back.
"Where are you going?" He asked her, very low, so only she could hear. He almost couldn't bear to let her out of his sight, lest she run away.
Teagan let Lancelot help her up. She faced Tristan, flashing him a brilliant smile.
"I have to pee." Her face serious, her eyes twinkling with amusement.
Others around them let out suppressed snorts of laughter.
Tristan felt like a fool, of course she would have to relieve herself. In fact, he had to.
0o0o0o
Gawain found Tristan as the scout was saddling his stallion, ready for the ride out. Right now, he looked like he was deep in thought, his forehead was resting on the pummel of the saddle. His hands were fingering the straps that held the scabbard to his sword.
Gawain pulled his own mount next to Tristan's putting on the saddle.
"What's wrong with you?"
Tristan picked up his head, he gave his friend a strange look. "Nothing."
The blonde knight let a smile out. "Uh Huh. It's about that woman isn't it?" Of course it would be. That would be the only thing that would be causing Tristan this much stress. This had been such a big thing for him.
Tristan gave Gawain a baleful look. "I don't know what to do now." Damn. The words came out before he could stop them.
Gawain gave the scout a clap on the back, earning him a hard glare. But he wasn't concerned. Tristan tolerated ribbing from his friends fairly well.
"Just be with her."
Gawain had a hard time keeping in the laugh that was about to leave his lips. Tristan's face was one of utter confusion. He could see that he was having a hard time thinking. He decided to give his friend a bit of advise.
"Let her lead the way."
0o0o0o
Everyone was riding clustered together. Lancelot and Cassandra were in the front of the group this time. Tristan and Teagan next, then Arthur and Guinevere. Gawain and the rest of the caravan was dispersed behind them.
Most of the morning conversation was taken up by the sight that Lancelot and Gawain had seen. They all took turns speculating what he'd do next. Tristan's life was mostly private, so anything remotely different caused quite a stir.
Tristan, to his credit, was taking it in stride. He pretty much expected it. And he was, so far, taking Gawain's advise. He rode quietly by her side. He didn't run or claim the need to go scouting.
Right now, he was content to ride by her side.
Bits of the conversation Lancelotwas having with Cassandra filtered back to them.
"Maybe now that she's with him, he'llpull out that stick he's got stuck up his arse."
Teagan glanced at Tristan, who was actually wearing an amused grin, then looked at the apple she had in her hand.
Pulling her arm back, she let it fly, grinning happily when it connected with the back of Lancelot's head.
"Ow!" He yelled as he turned around trying to see who threw the fruit. He rubbed the spot on his head where it smarted. "What was that for?"
Tristan only grinned at his friend, tipping his own apple up before he took a bite.
Teagan, on the other hand, couldn't keep a straight face. It was the best use she could find for the fruit anyway.
She smiled sweetly. "I'm so sorry, letch. It was rotten and I only meant to throw it away. Too bad your fat head was in the way."
Everyone within earchot was howling with laughter.
0o0o0o
It was later when the knights pulled themselves further apart. Again, Tristan and Teagan were in the front of the group, the rest a fair distance behind.
Tristan took the opportunity to ask Teagan a few questions. Questions he had wondered for some time.
"You do not hate me?"
Teagan nearly stopped her horse. Stone and dust scattered about at the move. "Why would I do that?"
"For what I did to you. I hurt you."
"Tristan. Was it something that you needed to do?"
He nodded, unable to speak properly. He looked at her, surprised by what he saw.
There was no anger, no hurt in her eyes. There was acceptance.
Teagan bowed her head. Her face warmed. "Then it is simple. I gave you what you needed."
Tristan felt better. A little. At least she hadn't run from him. He decided to change the subject. "We should talk about this Woden. Why do you call him Justus?"
Teagan stiffened, not wanting to talk about that man, but knowing she owed Tristan the truth.
"His name isn't Woden."
"It's Justus." He had guessed that much.
She nodded. "Remember I told you I was mistaken for a boy and taken for a knight?"
Tristan nodded, but wondered how anyone could mistaken her for a boy.
"The man who took me was Commander Victor Imperioli." She shuddered as she said his name. But she continued on. "Justus is his second-in-command. Both are evil men."
Tristan agreed, keeping silent to allow her to continue. He had listened to enough of her nightmares. He just wanted to hear it from her. To put the remaining pieces of this puzzle together.
"It was later found out that I was a girl and was set free. Rome didn't want any female knights at the time. So I was told anyway. Victor was not happy. He had wanted me since finding out I was a girl. He tried to keep me as a slave. He made it his mission in life to possess me."
This made Tristan's breath catch. It was exactly what he had done to her. He had wanted to possess Teagan. And she had let him.
Teagan wasn't looking at him, she was staring straight ahead. Her thoughts went back. Back to the time when she had been taken as a knight.
"I wouldn't allow that. He made my stomach turn. There was a boy. No, a man, a knight. To whom I became close to." She looked at Tristan to gauge his reaction. His face was as stony as usual. She continued. "Victor found out and used him to get to me. He threatened to kill the knight if I did not come to him willingly. I almost did, to spare him the pain of the torture Victor and Justus did to him. But, he would not let me. Galen forced me to leave. I have been running from them ever since."
Tristan stiffened at the name. It couldn't be Galen. Not the Galen he knew. His thoughts went back. Went back to the family he had been taken from to be a knight.
"Did you love this knight?" He didn't want to know. He had to know.
Teagan looked at Tristan, almost shyly. She gave the barest of nods. "I guess I did. But I was so young and it was a long time ago. He was tortured, I don't know if he still lives. Justus says he does, but I don't trust that man. When I left, I made that promise to myself."
Tristan was silent. Not trusting himself to speak. Willing his mind to not go where it was headed. He knew what her promise had been. He knew what that promise had almost cost her.
He knew what that promise had almost cost him. Almost.
0o0o0o
Arthur decided that the group would make a stop for a short meal. It was another day to Isca so they would be camping again and would reach the town by mid-day tomorrow. He felt that the caravan had made good time and prayed that it would continue on the way back.
And with the short amount of time it took to get to Isca, he felt that his men deserved a few days of leisure time.
He spared a glance as his wife, who at the moment was in deep conversation with Cassandra. The two women were talking about a dress that Cass wanted to make for Teagan.
Apparently, Teagan had no idea that this dress was being made. It was to be a surprise. And he was sure that with Cass making it, it would be lovely.
He just wondered why she was doing it.
He wasn't concerned, the women were always into something. And he thought that his men were always into mischief. These women could be infinitely worse.
His heart felt good. Bringing the women on this trip had been a good idea. Guinevere had been feeling a little trapped. Not being able to get out of the fortress as much as she wanted. And that had included visiting her people. She had been so engrossed in learning her duties as his Queen.
Arthur frowned. He hated that word, 'duties.' It made it sound like she had not choice in the matter when in fact, she did. He had made sure of that.
No, she wanted to learn and was looking forward to hosting the banquet that she had been planning. It was to take place in a few months.
Commander Victor Imperioli was coming to visit Arthur. The letter had come in a bundle for Arthur that Woden had brought with him.
But, for now Guinevere was out in the open air, enjoying the company of her friends.
Now, he looked ahead to where Tristan rode, alongside Teagan.
They weren't talking, just riding next to each other. But then, they didn't need to talk much. They never had.
He remembered seeing them sitting side by side one night in the library.
Arthur walked into the library carrying the large volume that he wanted to replace. Being late at night, he hadn't expected anyone to be in there.
He didn't expect the sight he witnessed when he entered.
Both of the large chairs were occupied. Teagan sat in one, her legs resting over the arm of the chair. Her toes were hooked on the wooden arm of the chair next to hers. Teagan's legs were bare and she wore no shoes. They had been carelessly thrown on the floor somewhere under the other chair. She enjoyed the warmth of the fire on her legs.
This wasn't so unexpected, she often did this as she read. The fire would be her light as she read. Often well into the next morning.
It was the occupant of the other chair that was unexpected.
Tristan sat in the large chair next to her, reading his own book. His fingers making lazy circles on the top of Teagan's foot.
Neither was saying a word. It wasn't needed. The company of one another was enough.
Now, watching them, Arthur was hopeful that it would be that way again. Tristan needed her in a way that he couldn't understand.
She was an anchor in his life that so often was violent. Even when it seemed as though they would never reconcile, her presence had always been calming to the scout. A small word, a light touch was sometimes all that had been needed.
He just hoped that this Woden wouldn't cause to much trouble for them.
Remembering that he wanted to stop the group and rest. He called out to Tristan.
Tristan turned, bringing his stallion next to Arthur's. He inclined his head to Arthur, licking the dust from his lips.
"We need to rest and to eat. Tell the others that we stop."
Tristan nodded, kicking his horse forward, telling Teagan of their intentions. She also turned her horse, bringing him to ride alongside Cassandra and Guinevere while Tristan sought out the others.
Arthur let out a low laugh when the women stopped their current conversation and switched to another. This time, what the plans were once they reached Isca.
0o0o0o
Tristan sought out Gawain and Lancelot. With Justus sniffing around Teagan, he wanted someone to watch her at all times. He didn't trust that man at all. If it couldn't be him, he wanted it to be one of the others.
Arthur had instructed him to scout ahead, to make sure the way was clear for their arrival into the campsite for this night.
He had seen the way Woden was hovering Teagan all morning. He didn't want her to be alone.
It was Gawain whom he saw first.
"I need you to watch Teagan. Don't let her out of your sight."
Gawain nodded to his friend, setting out to find her. He completly understood whatTristan was asking.
0o0o0o
Teagan had led her horse to the stream, letting him drink his fill before they moved on.
The movement of birds over the water had caught her attention so she missed Justus as he came to stand beside her.
"Leave me alone, Justus." She took an involuntary step away from him.
"Why would I do that? You are my promised."
"I am no such thing. And you know it." She spat at him.
"You are nothing but a plaything. That knight of yours will soon grow tired of you. And Victor will tire of you. Then it will be my turn."
"Leave off, Justus. What I do with Tristan is none of your concern." Teagan turned away from him, starting back to the others, wondering where Tristan was.
Then she remembered that Arthur had sent him ahead.
Justus reached out, grabbing Teagan by the braid of hair she wore down her back. He jerk hard, causing her to crash into him. He pulled the braid back, exposing her neck.
"You are nothing but a whore." He traced his finger from her chin, down her exposed neck. "I will enjoy you as much as I did that other whore. The one that looked like you."
Teagan swallowed. Hard. "What do you mean 'looked?' What did you do to her?"
Justus cackled, his lips finding her neck, his teeth grazing the skin he found there.
"I will do to you what I had done to her. And when I am done with you, I will kill your knight."
For a moment, Teagan's mind blanked. She tried to grasp what he just said. When it did, her anger and fear rose to the surface, her body shook as she tried to contain herself.
Justus was the one who beat Arianna. And now she suspected that he planned to do it to her.
Abruptly, Justus let go of Teagan, the force causing her to fall to her knees.
Not trusting her legs, she stayed where she was, watching to see what his next move would be. Her heart hammering. She wondered if she could get to the dagger she had hidden under her riding tunic.
The foul man simply laughed, walking away.
Still, Teagan did not move. Pulling her knees up to her chest, she put her head on them, silently weeping.
Silently hoping that this would all go away.
Hoping that she was wrong, that Justus didn't beat that poor woman.
This was how Gawain finally found her not long after Justus had left. She looked quite small, with her legs drawn up, her head on her knees. The way she was shaking, he wondered if she was crying.
The sight of her alarmed him. He thought that maybe she had been hurt.
Or worse.
That her new found happiness had been shattered. And if that were the case, he would murder the scout himself.
Gawain rushed to Teagan, falling to his knees beside her. He could hear her sobs. Gently, he pulled her against him, quietly soothing her.
"What happened?" He didn't want to know.
Pulling herself away from Gawain, Teagan brushed away the tears with the back of her hand, letting out a sniff.
Gawain reached out, pushing a stray lock of her hair behind her ear.
"We need to find Arthur. I know who hurt Arianna."
0o0o0o
Teagan and Gawain hurried to find Arthur. They finally found him, checking over his own stallion, making sure that the animal was ready to continue the journey.
"Arthur. I need to tell you something." She was out of breath. "Tristan did not hurt Arianna."
"You have already told me this. Why do you think I need to know again?"
She took in a breath. Expelling it with a rush. "Because I think I know who did."
Quickly, she related what she knew about Justus, what the man had said to her. She only told Arthur that she knew Justus, that he and his commander had been after her for years. She didn't tell Arthur who Justus' commander was, it wasn't his concern. It was hers. And some way, she would fix that.
But, right now, Arthur only needed to know that it had been Justus that had beaten Arianna, not Tristan.
"Why didn't you tell me that Woden was someone else?" His voice hard, his eyes were stern.
"I wanted him to just go away. To go back and tell his commander that he'd lost." It sounded weak, even to her ears. "And he's never done anything this stupid before."
Arthur threw up his hands.
"But, you knew who he was. And didn't tell me. And now you say that he was the one who beat Arianna."
"Arthur." Gawain's voice was low. He didn't like where this was heading.
The Roman turned to face Gawain, anger evident in his eyes. His face starting to mottle.
"Did you know about this?"
Gawain stood silent. He did not.
Teagan answered for him. "No, he didn't. Only Tristan knows about Justus."
"And now..." Arthur's voice was rising, causing others to look in their direction. "And now there is a potentially dangerous man running loose among my people."
He gave Teagan a hard stare. She visibly cringed under his gaze. He saw that he was frightening her. He didn't want to. This was more a surprise than anything. He knew that she had no idea this man was so dangerous.
He quickly strode close to Teagan, taking her hand in his, giving it a squeeze. He looked to his knight.
"Gawain, you and Lancelot see if you can find this Justus. Bring him to me if you do. Send a runner to find Tristan." He let go of Teagan's hand.
The scout wasn't that far away, he would meet them soon. From what he was getting, Teagan needed protecting. Tristan would be the one to do it.
Arthur stalked away, barking orders to everybody within earshot. He found Guinevere and Cassandra, telling them not to let Teagan out of their sight.
Both women were curious as to what happened, but Teagan wasn't talking. In fact, she wasn't saying anything at all. Something had scared her.
Arthur was still shouting orders.
He wanted all to be ready to ride within the hour.
And nobody knew where Justus was. It seemed he had disappeared.
0o0o0o
Arthur had decided to continue to the pre-arranged campsite. There were plenty of people on guard, that he felt it may be safer to continue on their planned course.
The runner had returned, saying that Tristan would scour the surrounding area for Justus. That the scout wanted to make sure it was safe.
Arthur glanced over to Teagan. He saw as Guinevere's worried look flicked to him then back to the quiet red head.
She rode quietly on her horse, not speaking to anyone unless spoken to first. She looked visibly shaken. Something had happened to her, or Justus may have said something that shook her so.
But, Teagan wasn't talking.
In fact, she wasn't worried about herself at all. Maybe just a little. But the voice in her head was saying that there were several large men looking out for her safety. She'd be lucky if she could relieve herself without one of them next to her.
No, she was worried about what Arthur had said.
That there was a potentially dangerous man among his people. His people that he had sworn to protect. She had kept silent, hoping it would all go away. And now, someone other than herself would get hurt.
That was what scared Teagan. That Justus would hurt an innocent.
He wouldn't. Not if she could help it.
0o0o0o
They didn't meet up with Tristan until they had camped for the night. And even then, he wasn't there right away.
He had heard what the runner had said, that Justus was after Teagan.
His barely controlled anger started to rise. He sent the runner back to Arthur, telling him that he was going to make sure the site was safe for their arrival. Justus was only one man, he had no hopes of taking Teagan with everyone on the alert.
Knowing that she was safe with Arthur and the rest of the caravan, he searched himself for the Roman. Scouting the surrounding area, he made sure that the camp site was safe. That there was nothing hiding in the brush, hiding the water.
If he ever lay eyes on that man again, he was dead.
He spent the remainder of the afternoon looking for the Roman. He was not happy when he came up empty handed.
When Tristan finally made it back to camp, he immediately sought out Arthur, reporting what he had found, and what he hadn't.
"I found some tracks, they head toward Isca." Tristan's eyes were dark with anger. "But there is no guarantee that they belong to Justus."
Arthur nodded. He figured that Justus would flee to the town. Now, they just needed to find him once they got there. He honestly doubted that they would. He was beginning to wonder who this man worked for. Teagan had mentioned a Roman commander. But hadn't given a name.
Arthur regarded his scout. "You knew about this?"
"About what?"
"Justus."
At that name, Tristan's back shot straight. His anger rising again. "Only since this morning."
"Did you know that he was the one who beat Arianna?"
Tristan felt a moment of guilt. He felt sorry for what had happened to the woman. But he also felt guilty that he had used her to upset Teagan.
He pushed that thought out of his head. He didn't want to think of his past actions with that woman.
He put on his stoic face, showing nothing.
"I suspected." His voice bland, showing no emotion.
"Suspected?" Arthur couldn't believe what he was hearing. "And you didn't say anything?"
Tristan shrugged his shoulders. "It was more convenient to let you think I beat that woman. You all believed I did that anyway."
Now it was Arthur's turn to feel guilty. He had believed Tristan guilty of that horrible crime. He had believed that Tristan had finally snapped. That he had fallen so far, he'd never get back.
Only Teagan had been brave enough to reach him. She had put aside her fears and reached out to Tristan. And for some reason, it was working.
Arthur watched as Tristan's eyes kept moving around. He was looking for her, this he knew.
"She's outside, near the horses."
Tristan left Arthur without another word, searching for Teagan.
It didn't take him long, he enfolded her into his arms, holding her tight. She seemed to startle when he first touched her. He could feel her tremble.
Feeling someone grab her, pulling her against him, Teagan panicked. She could still feel Justus' rank breath on her neck as he ran his teeth over her skin. Her body tensed, she took in deep breath. That was when she realized that it wasn't Justus. It was Tristan, she could smell his unquestionable smell of horse, sweat and leather.
As soon as she realized who it was that was holding her, her body broke into sobs.
"It's all right." He told her gently, trying to calm her.
Teagan shook her head. "I'm sorry. I didn't realize."
"You couldn't have known."
A/N: Sorry this is so long. I have revised this chapter four times. I had an event here at the end that I took out. As the next chapters are supposed to be light and fun, I didn't want a cloud of ick hanging over them. I hope you enjoy this. And I'm truly sorry that this is so long.